Share

Alec Hogg: Malema doesn’t have a monopoly on young minds

By Alec Hogg

EFF leader Julius Malema came to Biznews yesterday for an interview with our colleague Tim Modise. I missed the visit but like you, am able to listen to and watch their discussions which are posted on the site. It struck me how passionate Malema is about wanting to change things that frustrate him and his followers. But also how his beliefs come from assumptions based on myths, emotion and jargon.

During an off-the-record engagement in Davos, a global leader who spends his life trying to help government leaders effect economic development shook his head when I asked him about South Africa. He commented that the genes required to get elected to Parliament are very different from those needed to run an efficient economy. Don’t we just know it.

But before losing hope, how’s this for context? Malema’s EFF garnered 1.1m votes in the 2014 Election. Yesterday, the thoughtful, cerebral young media entrepreneur and broadcaster Gareth Cliff celebrated his one millionth follower on Twitter. Don’t use Malema to assume how young South Africans think. Sure, he represents a constituency. But as Cliff’s army shows, there are equally significant groupings elsewhere that see the holes in the rhetoric of populist politicians.

* For more in-depth business news, visit biznews.com or simply sign up for the daily newsletter.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders