The relationship between Malema - once one of Zuma’s most ardent supporters - has taken a nose-dive over the last year

Comments made by President Jacob Zuma that the views on land reform expressed by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema were his own, served to isolate the youth leader, the ANCYL says.

“Attributing the views expressed in the discussion document to ANCYL president Julius Malema is not helpful and can only serve to isolate him from the organisation,” the league’s national working committee (NWC) said in a statement.

The NWC met and noted comments by Zuma while he was on the campaign trail in KwaZulu Natal.

Zuma reportedly responded to concerns by farmers over land reform by saying: “Malema is on a learning curve and the farming community must not be shaken by his comments. What he says are simply his views.”   

In discussion documents released ahead of the ANCYL’s upcoming elective conference, the league proposes amending the property clause of the Constitution to allow the government to seize land without compensation “in the public interest”.

The league took issue with Zuma’s comments because land reform without compensation was a league policy proposal and not the views  of an individual.

“The views expressed in the 24th National Congress discussion documents have gone through the processes of the ANC National Working and Executive Committees and [were] never personal views of  ANCYL president.

“The ANCYL is concerned because we believe it is appropriate for  all members of the movement to engage the ANCYL on its policy positions and not isolate any of its leaders,” the statement read.

The league said it believed the way Zuma responded to the issue of land reform was “not consistent with this principle”.

The relationship between Malema — once one of Zuma’s most ardent  supporters — has taken a nose-dive over the last year. Malema was also named in reports of an alleged plot to oust Zuma at the ANC’s national elective conference in 2012.

The ANCYL also expressed concern about the way Zuma responded to questions about the nationalisation of the South African mines, which the league succeeded in putting on the ANC’s agenda at its national general council in September last year.

“The ANC has put in place a process on how best the issue of nationalisation of mines and other strategic sectors of the economy  should be approached.

“The ANCYL is of the view that the response by ANC president [Zuma] to the farmers is not consistent with the resolution of the ANC NGC and what the National Executive Committee instructed should  happen.”   

The ANC resolved to probe the viability of nationalising strategic sectors of the economy at its mid-term policy meeting.

The league called on all South Africans, “black and white, members and leaders of all ANC-led alliance structures, all leaders  of the ANC and all people concerned about the future of South Africa to read ANCYL discussion documents and ANC 52nd National Conference resolutions and engage the issues raised there.

“This will benefit those who want to engage us and sharpen the perspectives of the ANCYL towards the ANCYL 24th National Congress and ANC 53rd National Conference.”