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Malema berates Mbau for 'glamourising crime'

OUT OF CONTEXT: Khanyi Mbau 'does not support criminals'. Pic. Bafana Mahlangu. 28/06/2009. © Sowetan.
OUT OF CONTEXT: Khanyi Mbau 'does not support criminals'. Pic. Bafana Mahlangu. 28/06/2009. © Sowetan.

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has lambasted socialite and South Africa's queen of bling Khanyi Mbau after reports that she had described suspected crime boss William "King of Bling" Mbatha as a modern-day Robin Hood.

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has lambasted socialite and South Africa's queen of bling Khanyi Mbau after reports that she had described suspected crime boss William "King of Bling" Mbatha as a modern-day Robin Hood.

Yesterday Malema said that on reading a weekend newspaper report, he berated Mbau for "glamourising crime".

Addressing hundreds of young people during the Peter Mokaba memorial lecture in Sedibeng municipality's Civic Theatre, Malema said he was disturbed by Mbau's alleged comments.

Malema called on young people to isolate criminals in their communities.

"We must isolate them, including those who organise buses to celebrate criminals in court.

"I spoke to Khanyisile Mbau and asked her what type of role model she was who promoted a criminal?

"How can you support something that is against our cause and against the government of President Jacob Zuma?"

Yesterday Mbau told Sowetan that she did not support criminals. She said she was part of a police patrol in Rosebank.

"I plan to be a police reservist and will undergo professional training because I want to dedicate the next five years to fighting crime," Mbau said.

She said her comment about "Mashobane" was taken out of context

"The journalist asked me why people in the townships refer to him [Mbatha] as a hero.

"I said maybe in their eyes, in the townships, he was some kind of Robin Hood who brings the life of high flyers into the townships.

"I am a member of the ANC, I firmly believe in the movement's cause. I do not support crime in any form. I am a victim of crime myself," Mbau said.

Malema also called on police to shoot and kill criminals. Malema added that he was happy that the police were now "taking the war to the criminals".

"We must encourage the police to shoot them because it means we will not have these thugs on our streets."

He called on Police deputy minister Fikile Mbalula not to review the name of his department's Operation Wanya Tsotsi. The name has now been changed to Operation Washa Tsotsi.

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