'Promises are lies' - Malema

"Even if some of us are expelled from the organisation, do not be afraid"

SUSPENDED ANC Youth League president Julius Malema appears to have resigned himself to being ejected from the ANC and his position.

Malema, who was speaking at Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga yesterday, told thousands of people not to allow fear to stop them from demanding economic freedom and better living conditions.

"Nelson Mandela and his generation were regarded as disrespectful. They were impatient and wanted change now," Malema said.

"Comrades, you have a responsibility to change the living conditions of our people and you must not be afraid.

"Even if some of us are expelled from the organisation, do not be afraid.

"We will be inspired by you when you demand land and economic freedom."

Malema subtly attacked President Jacob Zuma when he told the crowd that they should invade Nelspruit to demand that the university that was promised be built.

"Anybody who promised you the university and never acted must not be a friend of people of Mpumalanga, because he promised you lies," he said.

"He only wanted votes. And now 2014 is coming and we will be having another round of elections and there is no university."

Malema was a leading member of the ANC campaign team during the 2008 elections.

In his State of the Nation Address a week ago Zuma promised to allocate R300-million to the building of universities in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.

The ANC Youth League has been campaigning for new universities.

Malema said individuals in the ANC were responsible for the turmoil in the league. He said those who were against the ANC Youth League should not be voted for.

"We must have faith in the ANC. The problems that the ANCYL has are not because of the ANC, it is because of individuals in the ANC," he said. "Their time is coming. Every five years there is a conference.

"Those who are troubling us must never get a cross (vote) from us. You must refuse with your cross (vote) especially for those who are misusing the structures of the ANC to pursue their personal interests.

"Even if they expel us from the ANC we are children of the ANC.

"Our parent wants to expel us, we have no problem, we are ready."

He vowed to remain a supporter of the ANC should he be expelled.

"We will still wear T-shirts of the ANC and nobody will stop us. We will still attend rallies of the ANC and clap hands for those who speak sense and the truth. They are expelling us as members and not as supporters."

He regarded the looming expulsion as banishment of the voice of the league and young people in general.

"The only thing we want from branches of the ANC is the unbanning of the youth league, because the youth league is the life blood of the ANC. Without the youth league the ANC will be weak."

ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa, who was also billed to address the rally, did not show up. ANC provincial leaders were also not in attendance.

Locals who attended the rally clapped hands at each word uttered by Malema.

Perhaps with the knowledge that it might be his last address, after concluding his speech, he walked around the pitch shaking hands.

He posed for cellphone pictures and his bodyguards allowed people to pose with him for photos.

Bushbuckridge is home to Malema's deputy and his possible replacement, Ronald Lamola.

Lamola, who did not speak at the rally, received the loudest cheer when he was introduced.