Only a handful of people gathered to hear what the ex ANC youth leader had to say to soldiers
EXPELLED ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's campaign of using the country's disgruntled people as a stepping stone in his political come-back trail gained further traction yesterday when a handful of suspended soldiers gave him a rousing welcome.
Although Malema delivered a mild message during his address to the soldiers, their representative Solly Nkomo warned that the group of suspended soldiers could turn to violent means to get their way.
"There are two ways to do things, the good way or we take them on militarily," he said.
Nkomo rubbished Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's warning to soldiers not to participate in yesterday's event, saying: "We have a right to gather. We don't need their permission to be here because we are not on military premises".
On Tuesday, the defence ministry released a statement saying it had placed all military bases on high alert after it was announced that Malema would be addressing the soldiers who were placed on special leave in 2009.
Mapisa-Nqakula gave a strongly worded statement ahead of Malema's address saying ill discipline in the military was a direct threat to the country's security.
Addressing about 60 soldiers at Lenasia recreation centre yesterday Malema said: "Since when do people who meet to discuss grievances [constitute] a security risk?
"Soldiers who are not properly paid are a threat to the sovereignty of our country."
Malema also gave a hint of his next targets in his bid to be seen as a champion for the voiceless.
He said teachers and health-workers, like the soldiers, were poorly paid and that this needed to be remedied.
"Soldiers, teachers and health-workers are not paid well and the government must begin to address this issue," Malema said.
He steered clear from his usual aggressive and militant rhetoric as he urged the soldiers to demand their immediate reinstatement in the military.
SA IS A “BANANA REPUBLIC”: MALEMA
South Africa is a “banana republic” that does not follow the rule of law, Malema said.
“No one is above the law, not the military, not the presidency, and not Parliament. Every court decision must be respected.
“We must respect the courts, but the leadership of this banana republic disrespects the courts.”
He said the government had failed to adhere to court orders in three instances. It had not provided the Democratic Alliance with the evidence in the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma, had not delivered textbooks, and was not re-instating 1,100 soldiers put on special leave for protesting at the Union Buildings in 2009.
The country’s confidence in its leadership needed to be rebuilt.
“Your Commander in Chief [Zuma] is engaged in other things. You are a lesser priority. All of us are a lesser priority,” Malema said.
“I don’t know what is a priority to him, maybe getting married every year. He specialises on that one. Maybe that is what is going right for him.
“Here, children don’t have books, people in hospitals don’t have the necessary machines, they don’t have roads or clean water.”
Malema repeated an earlier accusation that Zuma was a dictator.
“These are the symptoms of dictatorship, a political principle in the form of a president becoming more rich and rich, and those that he is leading becoming more poorer and poorer.”
Malema said soldiers who had wanted to attend the meeting were being locked up in their bases by leaders behaving “like headless chickens”.
“I am very disappointed by the statement of the minister, which was to put all the camps (bases) on a high alert and [say] that we are constituting a security threat,” Malema said. “Since when do people who meet to discuss grievances pose a security threat in South Africa? This is what led to the killing of [34 mine workers] in Marikana. And a capable leadership that is confident in itself, it will never panic because it knows that it enjoys the legitimacy and support of the people. And every day, when people meet you, will never be threatened, because you know that you have nothing to hide.”
He said he did not plan to de-stabilise the government.
“We are not planning any mutiny. We are not planning to remove any government undemocratically. Yes, we don’t love this leadership... we want to remove it democratically,” Malema said.
“We will never conspire with the soldiers, or anybody to engage in an illegal activity.”
People had only their voices and minds to fight “this barbaric regime under President Jacob Zuma”, he said.
Malema then led the crowd in a version of dubula ibhunu (shoot the boer) called “kiss the boer”.
Malema fails to rally the troops
Only a handful of people gathered to hear what the ex ANC youth leader had to say to soldiers
EXPELLED ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's campaign of using the country's disgruntled people as a stepping stone in his political come-back trail gained further traction yesterday when a handful of suspended soldiers gave him a rousing welcome.
Although Malema delivered a mild message during his address to the soldiers, their representative Solly Nkomo warned that the group of suspended soldiers could turn to violent means to get their way.
"There are two ways to do things, the good way or we take them on militarily," he said.
Nkomo rubbished Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's warning to soldiers not to participate in yesterday's event, saying: "We have a right to gather. We don't need their permission to be here because we are not on military premises".
On Tuesday, the defence ministry released a statement saying it had placed all military bases on high alert after it was announced that Malema would be addressing the soldiers who were placed on special leave in 2009.
Mapisa-Nqakula gave a strongly worded statement ahead of Malema's address saying ill discipline in the military was a direct threat to the country's security.
Addressing about 60 soldiers at Lenasia recreation centre yesterday Malema said: "Since when do people who meet to discuss grievances [constitute] a security risk?
"Soldiers who are not properly paid are a threat to the sovereignty of our country."
Malema also gave a hint of his next targets in his bid to be seen as a champion for the voiceless.
He said teachers and health-workers, like the soldiers, were poorly paid and that this needed to be remedied.
"Soldiers, teachers and health-workers are not paid well and the government must begin to address this issue," Malema said.
He steered clear from his usual aggressive and militant rhetoric as he urged the soldiers to demand their immediate reinstatement in the military.
SA IS A “BANANA REPUBLIC”: MALEMA
South Africa is a “banana republic” that does not follow the rule of law, Malema said.
“No one is above the law, not the military, not the presidency, and not Parliament. Every court decision must be respected.
“We must respect the courts, but the leadership of this banana republic disrespects the courts.”
He said the government had failed to adhere to court orders in three instances. It had not provided the Democratic Alliance with the evidence in the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma, had not delivered textbooks, and was not re-instating 1,100 soldiers put on special leave for protesting at the Union Buildings in 2009.
The country’s confidence in its leadership needed to be rebuilt.
“Your Commander in Chief [Zuma] is engaged in other things. You are a lesser priority. All of us are a lesser priority,” Malema said.
“I don’t know what is a priority to him, maybe getting married every year. He specialises on that one. Maybe that is what is going right for him.
“Here, children don’t have books, people in hospitals don’t have the necessary machines, they don’t have roads or clean water.”
Malema repeated an earlier accusation that Zuma was a dictator.
“These are the symptoms of dictatorship, a political principle in the form of a president becoming more rich and rich, and those that he is leading becoming more poorer and poorer.”
Malema said soldiers who had wanted to attend the meeting were being locked up in their bases by leaders behaving “like headless chickens”.
“I am very disappointed by the statement of the minister, which was to put all the camps (bases) on a high alert and [say] that we are constituting a security threat,” Malema said. “Since when do people who meet to discuss grievances pose a security threat in South Africa? This is what led to the killing of [34 mine workers] in Marikana. And a capable leadership that is confident in itself, it will never panic because it knows that it enjoys the legitimacy and support of the people. And every day, when people meet you, will never be threatened, because you know that you have nothing to hide.”
He said he did not plan to de-stabilise the government.
“We are not planning any mutiny. We are not planning to remove any government undemocratically. Yes, we don’t love this leadership... we want to remove it democratically,” Malema said.
“We will never conspire with the soldiers, or anybody to engage in an illegal activity.”
People had only their voices and minds to fight “this barbaric regime under President Jacob Zuma”, he said.
Malema then led the crowd in a version of dubula ibhunu (shoot the boer) called “kiss the boer”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos