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Julius Malema addressing miners at Gold Fields mine in Carletonville. PHOTO: ANTONIO MUCHAVE

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The expelled ANC Youth League president revealed that he planned to spread the groundswell of anger and unrest that brought Lonmin's Marikana mine to a standstill about four weeks ago to South Africa's other mines.

He sent the ominous warning to mining houses before an attentive audience of about 2000 striking miners at Gold Fields Driefontein mine near Carletonville, west of Johannesburg.

He further revealed that his home province of Limpopo would be his next destination in a rapidly growing campaign to destabilise the mining industry.

Malema is today expected to address members of the South African National Defence Force in Lenasia, who have claimed that the government was not addressing their demands.

The trip to Limpopo, Malema confirmed, would culminate in a call for a national mining strike that would render the industry "ungovernable".

However, he also revealed that his call for a national strike was aimed at ridding the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) of its leaders - general-secretary Frans Baleni and president Senzeni Zokwana.

Malema said: "There must be a national strike in all the mines calling for the NUM leadership to step down. As long as Zokwana and Baleni are still leading NUM, there will never be progress."

He also challenged Baleni to publicly declare all his sources of income, including a claimed R1-million Baleni is said to earn annually from sitting on the boards of various mining companies.

The Driefontein miners downed tools on Monday, demanding a wage of R12500 as well as money ranging from R10,000 to R15,000 which was apparently promised to them "two years ago".

Victor Montshi, 33, an assistant fitter who earns R4,800 a month, told Sowetan that in December mine managers promised to equalise salaries across all of Gold Fields operations.

Since that did not happen, Montshi said, miners opted to go on strike.

Earlier in the day, a tense stand-off between striking miners and Gold Fields security threatened to turn violent when word apparently got out that Malema had been barred from entering the mine premises.

About 200 miners wielding makeshift weapons stormed out of Masizakhele Stadium to meet Malema's two-car convoy at the entrance. Several miners could be heard screaming Uphi? (where is he?)

- molatlhwao@sowetan.co.za

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Fri May 24 17:57:02 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 12, 2012

RobinH

As if this wasn't obvious to anyone with half a brain from the minute he arrived at MArikana in his airconned 4 X 4.
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Sep 12, 2012

Mnumzane

And now Malema calls for Baleni to declare his shareholdings while he refused to declare his when he was asked as he said he is not a public figure! A pot calling a kettle black. Last nite Miners had their supper @ the Gift of the Givers Kitchen soup and Malema had his @ his home and downed with a Champagne.
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Sep 12, 2012

RobinH

Mndende: He has one, but it disappears in the fat rolls. Floyd really battles to find it when he wants to play.
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Sep 12, 2012

Kabelo10

I'm afraid now, this guy will be assasinated.
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Sep 12, 2012

Dzel

I also thought it was common knowledge what he is trying to do. The real story is what impact are his actions going to have on our economy, that is what I would have covered if I were writing this article.

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Sep 12, 2012

RobinH

Dzel: Agreed. Seriously useless journalism surrounding this whole issue. We don't need a second by second update on the farts of a fat boy. What we would like is some insightful reporting and perhaps a smattering of analysis.
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Sep 12, 2012

16-12-1838

Dzel, RobinH

Lazy journalism and sensationalist reporting are always going to be with us unfortunately.

What we would all like is a govt that has a vision for this country. One that incorporates the needs and ambitions of all who live here and of course, strong enough to ensure the vision becomes a reality.
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Sep 12, 2012

Mbelewolwazi

@Crown
Thanks for making me laugh my crap out. That was very funny though I know it is from frustration.
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Sep 12, 2012

Catswhiskers

@RobinH
Wrong - what we need now is some strong leadership and action from the people who are supposedly running this country!
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Sep 12, 2012

Zabaragast

I'd back him, but he has a bunker.
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