WE ARE eagerly waiting to see how the authorities handle Mpumalanga ANC Youth League secretary Isaac Mahlangu's threat to City Press newspaper.

WE ARE eagerly waiting to see how the authorities handle Mpumalanga ANC Youth League secretary Isaac Mahlangu's threat to City Press newspaper.

Such talk by a component structure of a ruling party is deeply disconcerting, coming as it does while the country is grappling with a bunch of criminals who went on national television spelling out their nefarious intentions come the World Cup.

The police ministry has reacted angrily to what it saw as media molly-coddling of thugs.

On the surface Mahlangu and the e.tv criminals are guilty of the same thing - promising to cause mayhem. Both follow a long list of individuals getting away with language that would be criminal in other jurisdictions.

MK veterans threatened to cause upheaval in Western Cape. Taxi owners and drivers promised there would be blood if the cities proceeded to implement bus rapid transit systems. Community who are angry with their public representatives is threatening to ensure that there will not be a World Cup.

In none of these have we heard a murmur from the authorities.

Now the chickens have come home to roost. The police must now arrest and charge the youth league wiseacre with intimidation and inciting violence as they have rightfully charged the chest-beating e.tv.

Failing to act against the ANC warmonger would render the Mthethwa-Cele complex duplicitous. They cannot claim to be acting on principle in pursuing e.tv and act as if nothing happened with regards to the Youth League rabble-rouser. We are keenly watching this space.