Young leaders need to learn right behaviour

THE developments around the youth league brigade and Julius Malema are puzzling to me.

The latest I heard was that youths around the country were to assemble for a night vigil at Lethuli House in support of the youth leader when he appeared at yesterday's disciplinary hearing.

Seventeen years into democracy our people are still not aware of what is happening around them.

If people whom I regard as learned cannot differentiate between right and wrong, then we are heading for disaster.

The youth league consists predominately of young people who are either at school or tertiary institutions, where they are taught to think and reason critically.

I start to fully agree with people such as Mamphele Ramphele when she said that we are in a dangerous position in this young democracy when people cannot see the difference between right and wrong, and attack others when they have different opinions from theirs.

I support Malema's robust engagement on issues of concern in the ANC and what the youth are planning to do, but I personally think they are directing their energies in addressing wrong issues.

If we are going to spend our time at night vigils supporting other leaders instead of developing ourselves intellectually so that we can determine the difference between right and wrong, we are bound to fail as future leaders.

The greatest wrong about this situation is that poor young and illiterate people are being short-changed.

Solidarity with comrades should be on merit

Lesetja Legodi, Johannesburg