Julius Malema replies to Jeremy Cronin

The opinion article by Cde Jeremy Cronin, a renowned analyst and poet is openly reactionary, clothed in quasi-Marxist rhetoric, with potential to make a sorry and sad reflection of the true character of the South African Communist Party's ideological steadfastness. What is worrying though is that Cde Cronin's anti development and counter progress sentiments are projected as views of South African Communist Party (see article).

It is highly unlikely that Cde Cronin represents the views and true character of the Communist Party because the Communist Party we know is one that was able to mould Nelson Mandela from an anti-communist radical into a true revolutionary who did not only embrace the Freedom Charter, but was willing to take up arms to defend it.

Communist Party activists played an important role in the ideological, political and organisational configuration of the ANC Youth League in the early 1940s and early 1950s, despite the hostility they encountered from the Youth Leaguers, particularly Nelson Mandela. When Nelson Mandela rebuked the Communist Party and physically disrupted its meetings, it was the longest serving General Secretary of the Communist Party, Moses Kotane who paid particular attention to the ready to fight anti-communist militant (Mandela) and transformed him into fighting nationalist revolutionary against the white bourgeoisie and the British imperialists.

William Nkomo, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Joe Matthews and many of our predecessors in the Youth League matured within the revolutionary national liberation movement to accept the ideological guidance from the Communist Party. Practical joint programmes of what is now understood to be the alliance between the ANC and the Communist Party were pioneered by the founding generation of the ANC YL amidst condemnation by the Senior and older leadership of the ANC.

These realities about the Communist Party and many others make us to earnestly believe that Jeremy Cronin could not be writing about the ANC YL's call for the Nationalisation of Mines in the manner he did if he truly represents the Communist Party. But because Jeremy Cronin chose to write about the Nationalisation of Mines in response to the ANC YL, we are left with no choice but to respond and expose the reactionary undertones that characterise his input.

It is very sad that Jeremy Cronin decided to isolate me from the ANC YL 23^rd National Congress resolution that "the State should be custodian of the people in its ownership, extraction, production and trade of mineral wealth beneath the soil, monopoly industries and banks". We thought that it is only rightwing Newspapers and their attendant analysts who recurrently isolate me from the organisation, and indeed amazed that Jeremy Cronin has joined the band.

Socialisation vs. Nationalisation

Cde Jeremy Cronin takes issue with the fact that the ANC YL has called for Nationalisation of Mines, instead of socialisation. He says "this is why the SACP also prefers in general to refer to "socialisation" rather than "nationalisation". This is quite odd because in the same opinion article, Cde Cronin re-asserts the Communist Party's call for the Nationalisation of SASOL.

The SACP 12^th National Congress resolved amongst other things, "to campaign for and ensure the re-nationalization of companies in strategic sectors such SASOL and Mittal Steel with an ultimate aim of nationalizing and socializing the commanding heights of the economy in line with the vision of the Freedom Charter". It appears from this resolution and many others that contrary to what Cde Jeremy says, the SOUTH AFRICAN Communist Party has never preferred socialisation as opposed to nationalisation, and neither did it narrowly prefer nationalisation as opposed to socialisation.

In August 2009, the ANC YL released a Nationalisation of Mines conceptual framework (see here) on what our understanding of Nationalisation is, so as to avoid the confusion and misinterpretations that seem to dominate Cronin's input. In the conceptual framework, we amongst other things said, "Nationalisation is not a panacea for South Africa's developmental challenges, but it should in the manner we are proposing it, entail democratising the commanding heights of the economy, to ensure they are not just legally owned by the state, but that they are thoroughly democratised and controlled by the people".

What is vital and important in the immediate is that Nationalisation of Mines should happen and the question, methods and approach of socialisation is directly consequent of the decision to Nationalise. Comrade Jeremy does not appreciate such, he instead philosophises the entire question so that he can reach reactionary conclusions.

In the ANC, "transfer of mineral wealth beneath the soil, monopoly industries and banks to the ownership of the people as a whole" was correctly understood as nationalisation if the government that nationalises can justly claim authority and based on the will of the people.

In the aftermath of the ANC's adoption of the Freedom Charter, the leadership of the ANC recurrently affirmed "transfer of ownership to the people as a whole" as amounting to a legitimate government's control and ownership of the commanding heights of the economy. Various evidence points to the fact that ownership by the people as a whole was construed to be meaning Nationalisation. Cde Jeremy Cronin is the one speaking English, not politics, and does not even provide a conceptual foundation of what is meant by socialisation.

Responding to a critique of the Freedom Charter by a Jordan K. Ngubane, who was against the economic clause of the Freedom Charter, President Albert Luthuli said in June 1956 that, "In modern society, even amongst the so-called capitalistic countries, nationalisation of certain industries and commercial undertakings has become an accepted and established fact. Only the uninitiated and ignorant would suggest that the Union of South Africa is going to Moscow because its Railways, Broadcasting and Post Office services are nationalised".

President Luthuli further illustrated that nationalisation as called for in South Africa and in the Freedom Charter did not amount to the Moscow style command economy, and this point is categorically stated in the July 2009 ANC YL's conceptual basis on nationalisation.

Again in 1956, a leader of the ANC, Nelson Mandela said, "It is true that in demanding the nationalisation of the banks, the gold mines and the land the Charter strikes a fatal blow at the financial and gold-mining monopolies and farming interests that have for centuries plundered the country and condemned its people to servitude. But such a step is absolutely imperative and necessary because the realisation of the Charter is inconceivable, in fact impossible, unless and until these monopolies are first smashed up and the national wealth of the country turned over to the people". There is absolutely no confusion on the understanding the leadership of the ANC had on the Freedom Charter, and the contemporary interpretations should not confuse us.

Former ANC President Oliver Tambo said in the 1969 political report to the National Consultative Conference in Morogoro that, "At the moment there are vast monopolies whose existence affects the livelihood of large numbers of our people and whose ownership is in the hands of Europeans only. It is necessary for monopolies which vitally affect the social well-being of our people such as the mines, the sugar and wine industry to be transferred to public ownership so that they can be used to uplift the life of all the people".

In his first public address after release from prison, former President Nelson Mandela said, "nationalisation of the mines, banks and monopoly industry is the policy of the ANC and a change or modification of our view in this regard is inconceivable". Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela played critical role in the consultation for the Freedom Charter and adoption by the ANC, and they could not be mistaken.

Beneficiation of Minerals

Again, Comrade Jeremy deliberately provides incomplete information about the Minerals that are beneficiated in South Africa, clearly with the hope that we will not have information to disapprove him. Indeed COAL is used for electricity generation; SASOL uses certain Minerals to produce oil and the Aluminium Smelters smelt Aluminium. The Mineral Wealth in South Africa that is not beneficiated locally far exceeds the ones that are beneficiated in ESKOM, SASOL and the Aluminium Smelters.

South Africa is home to vital minerals reserves in the world, and this includes Platinum Group Metals (70%), Gold (40%), Manganese (70%), Chromium (70%) and 54 other minerals. What exactly happens to these Minerals is not known, yet Comrade Jeremy knowingly avoids this question because his main interest is centred on protecting and defending the existent property relations. The only thing we can do, as he suggests, is to transform the pattern of capital accumulation, not change it. We will never say that Comrade Jeremy is reformist because the Youth League will be considered as and labelled BEE funded anti-communist, only obsessed with shiny objects.

We said before that, "Our call for nationalisation is based on the Freedom Charter, but also on the fact that such will enhance and harness the State's capacity to create jobs and open economic opportunities for majority of our people. The State control, ownership and expansion of our mineral processing and beneficiation will play a critical role in labour-absorption of many other workers into the South African economy. Buttressed by a comprehensive social security strategy and industrial policy, South Africa needs high labour-intensive programmes to decisively deal with the unemployment and poverty challenges".

This call in Comrade Jeremy's books is reduced to the ANC YL's obsession with bling to the extent that we can never think anything developmental, but bling. It is sad that previously, those who look like us were considered intellectually inferior by the white supremacists, and today Comrade Jeremy reflects the same sentiment, even before he interacts with the views of the ANC YL.

The ANC's 52^nd National Conference resolutions re-affirm that "the use of natural resources of which the state is the custodian on behalf of the people, including our minerals, water, marine resources in a manner that promotes the sustainability and development of local communities and also realises the economic and social needs of the whole nation".

This requires resolute leadership and decisive intervention into South Africa strategic economic sectors. There are lots of industrial beneficiation programmes South Africa can initiate and/or cause to happen despite jewellery. We are very aware that value can be added to Minerals not through jewellery only, but through various labour absorptive and developmental programmes.

The ANC YL said in August 2009 that "One of South Africa's greatest challenges is its high levels of unemployment. Added to the low skills reality, the South African economy is not sufficiently labour-absorptive to the extent that even if the entire workforce would be skilled, the economy would not absolve all workers into decent employment. So the creation of various labour absorptive job opportunities is vital to deal with the unemployment and poverty challenge. Mining as a critical component of the South African economy should necessarily be used to expand and industrialise the South African economy in a more developmental, instead of parasitic mechanism pursued by the current owners of Mining activities in South Africa".

Comrade Jeremy did not read this, and instead suspects that myself as President of the Youth League "and others are missing this bigger systemic picture because when they speak of mineral beneficiation they are thinking of bling...sorry, jewellery". Can it be possible that we dedicating our struggle against prejudices elsewhere whilst they exist within the organisation?

Black people and particularly Africans in Mining do not own anything above 10% of the Minerals extraction, production and trade in South Africa. Even those who think they own, do so on behalf of white owned and controlled Banks. It is an open secret that majority of shareholder capitalists in Mining are heavily indebted, and why is it that the main concern for Comrade Jeremy is the Youth League's imagined efforts to save blacks and Africans in the economy through Nationalisation.

Cde Jeremy's silence on the wealth that will be transferred from the white minority to the black and particularly African majority is very loud. It appears that the only concern Comrade Jeremy has is that these black indebted shareholder capitalists will be saved by the call for Nationalisation and nothing else. The Nationalisation that should happen should never be a blindly driven programme, but extremely cautious as it might impact on the government fiscus and disable the ANC government's capacity to build better lives for all.

If Indeed Gold Mining will cause more cost instead of benefit South Africa, then we will not concentrate our energies on Gold. Platinum, chrome, manganese, diamond, coal, and most of the other 54 minerals continue to be strategic minerals and their extraction, production and trade should benefit the people as a whole.

Expropriation?

The question of expropriation does not arise and squarely falls within the conceptual framework we previously raised, that "depending of the merits of the each case based on "balance of evidence", nationalisation may involve expropriation with or without compensation". This is vital and should be decided on a case by case basis. Part of the models we are considering as an approach to Nationalisation of Mines is the Botswana model where De Beers is a 50% partnership with the Botswana government and still pays royalties and tax.

None of the Mining Licence Holders in South Africa currently have more than 30 years licence, and a substantial part of the country's platinum and other vital minerals is not mined, entailing that if the partnership model is the one endorsed by the ANC National General Council in September 2010, the people of South Africa will be benefiting from as soon as new partnerships are entered into.

Conclusion

The Constitutional Court will not be involved in all these because our call for Nationalisation and its ultimate realisation will never violate the Constitution. We have sufficient political power and the question is whether we have the capacity, courage and will to use political power for the benefit of the people as a whole. Whilst important for the life of the organisation, debates should not seek to undermine the intellectual capacity of other comrades, but should be used as contribution to the development of our movement.

Ideologues of the movement should never be tempted to fall into an arrogant trap and believe that they are the only ones capable of expressing views, and completely not care about engaging with (or at least read) official perspective positions of the component organisations of the National Liberation Movement.

The ANC YL will interact with all discussion documents of the movement, including the SACP Special National Congress documents, but will never agree to be co-opted to reformist programmes and projects of anyone. South Africa in 2009, more than in other period in its history, is strategically in a space and period to Nationalise Mines.

The Communist Party should in this instance always seek to enrich the debate and discussion on the Nationalisation of Mines and avoid joining reactionary and counter-revolutionary forces who believe the status quo in terms of property relations is acceptable. No amount of bickering from both Right and fake-Left forces will diminish our efforts to ensure that Mines and other strategic sectors of the South African economy are nationalised. We also do not need the permission of white political messiahs to think.

Statement issued by the President of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, November 19 2009

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter

Services Subscribe to newsletters News feeds Share this article Facebook Google Laaik.it Yahoo! Digg del.icio.us

 

This call in Comrade Jeremy's books is reduced to the ANC YL's obsession with bling to the extent that we can never think anything developmental, but bling. It is sad that previously, those who look like us were considered intellectually inferior by the white supremacists, and today Comrade Jeremy reflects the same sentiment, even before he interacts with the views of the ANC YL."

Julius Malema

 

Related links

Articles:

YCL disgusted by Malema's racism »

We didn't insult Cronin - ANCYL »

SACP condemns Malema's attack on Cronin »

Should we nationalise the mines? - Jeremy Cronin »

Nationalisation: What Mathews Phosa said in London »

Comments

 

responses to this article

Cronin "staughted"! "Author, author, author please!" This reply is too well constructed for that guy that we see on ZA News (www.mg.za) or is there a ghost (writer) in the House (Luthuli)? But what does this mean Cmde Malema: " ... the ANC YL's obsession . .more with bling to the extent that we can never think anything developmental, but bling?" Short answer please. Why not just go ahead and say that the is "white", "counter-revolutionary" and send him off to the nearest Gulag (or abetoir/meat-slaughtering house). Also you are factually wrong on many points but let me not hog the scene here! . .less by selcool on November 19 2009, 23:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Observing this space On the above comment, judging from the tone, style and emotion of the reply, i bet you my life on the author 'fikile mbalula'. Its a good response but i know cronins style, he will retaliate with a stronger, cogently, more marxist reply. Hehehe by Malcom X on November 20 2009, 00:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The English, she is broken Can Mr Malema please explain (in English this time, if possible) what the following is supposed to mean: "Nationalisation [...] should [...] entail democratising the commanding heights of the economy, to ensure they are not just legally owned by . .more the state, but that they are thoroughly democratised and controlled by the people." Keep the explanation simple. What will it mean on a *money in the bank, food on the table* level to the man on the street? Do you admit and understand that a very small and select group of cadres will be the ones doing the controlling on those commanding heights of the economy? . .less by Darwin on November 20 2009, 07:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

the big debate come now folks, the compromised solution is national socialism....just like the form we saw in germany under the nazi's........the tripartheid alliance = nazi party ideologies!!! by onlooker on November 20 2009, 07:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

And we believe that JulieBabe wrote this himself ! by Piet on November 20 2009, 07:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What a fake Definitely not julius's words. Wonder where he copied that from, I think he if he read the above report he probably would not undestand a bit of it and would suffer a brain siezure. by Ha Ha on November 20 2009, 07:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What? Hey malenema - did you write all that by yourself? I don't believe it for one second! There is no way malema can string two coherent words together that make sense, nevermind such a longwinded rambling piece of work. Some one else wrote this... by Sias on November 20 2009, 07:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Please Julius, please, if you are going to attempt a reply, please at least make it seem somewhat plausible that you wrote it yourself! by DoorKnob on November 20 2009, 08:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Good old Julius obscuring his real activities This smoke screen is merely a ploy to detract from his real activities that support his lavish life style. Hitler too had such thugs. Hopefully Zuma will be able to control this thug before he becomes too powerful. by Albie on November 20 2009, 08:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Couldn't Resist We also do not need the permission of white political messiahs to think. Enough already, what does race have anything to do with this? Again, the same broken record. by DoorKnob on November 20 2009, 08:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

QUALIFIED CARPENTER Who sez our education system is / has gone down the tubes. Here's a perfect example of an unqualified carpenter who obviously got a distinction in gobledegook! by WTF... on November 20 2009, 08:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Message to the rest of SA. Please sit up and take notice for the ANC's RUNT has spoken! by LongFellow on November 20 2009, 08:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

On the day of Reckoning during question time. Dear Lord please tell us why in the bigger scheme of things, were cockroaches, flies and the ANC YL followers created ? by Phaedrus on November 20 2009, 08:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema Mining Ltd Why does the ANCYL not open their own mine and prove their theory that it will benefit the people? The State owns the mineral resource, submit your plan to the DME and have a go. But good luck with raising the capital and hiring the required skills with . .more your racist ranting. Also consider that government is presently privatising Foskor and made a complete disaster of Alexkor, nationalising mines has been a complete and utter disaster everywhere. You live is a free land where you have the opportunity to develop a mining company, have a go... . .less by African on November 20 2009, 08:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Beeg Werds Eish, Cde Malema. thees r beeg werds! U rite or sembady els? by Eish on November 20 2009, 08:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Wonder what happened to that great communist Geraldine Fraser moloeketi? by Piet on November 20 2009, 08:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

stepping out what i always guessed, malema is a closet speech writer and author of several books, wonder what his non de plume is? by snore on November 20 2009, 09:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Exclusive - Julius' original speech he asked his speech writer to flesh out "We wanna Nationalise the mines cos they dig up gold and we wanna get our hands on all that lovely gold stuff" by Sad Days on November 20 2009, 09:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

re: secrets, lies and democracy In an article on American democracy, Noam Chomsky says that all corporate structures are fascist, I would go one further to say that all organisations and institutions structured on the principle since if they have positions such as chief executive . .more officer and president et cetera, Thus the observation that both Luthuli House and the SACP, as well as the DA the Freedom Front, the police, absolutely every institution and organ of existence constructed by people has a fascist orientation and inner reality or principle. Democracy seems to me to be a concept that is bandied about to appease the collective citizenry, and of course to give false hope to the aforementioned citizenry. Malema strikes me as the archetypal African dictator in the rough and raw, for this type of character it is all about being at the top carrying the big stick and being in command of the armed forces. Big toys. . .less by Ekenj on November 20 2009, 09:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Talk more nationalization please Mr Julius The more he talks nationalization the more companies will take their operations ofshore until companies like Anglo are only represented by a secretary. This will only contibute to umemployment. Companies like Anglo would probably love it if he . .more bought their shares only giving them more money to invest in their current operations. Fancy Anglo shareholders getting a trillion rand payout from Julius. All that for some old scrapheap mine somewhere near Verreeninging. The only thing they need to consider is this. All the revenue that the gov is benifiting from the mines ie taxes of CEO's, workers etc where is that going to come from. Are they planing on paying taxes from the mining and banking industries earned into their own coffers. I mean lets face it they could'nt balance the books of a small time operation like the Land bank. How are they going to balance the books of the entire mining and banking industry. . .less by The Wolf on November 20 2009, 09:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Definitely not the Runt of the Pack. Hitler Jugen had an Alsation to lead the pack, a dog known for intelligence & timed attack. JM is a Rottweiler - attacks with teeth & no intelligence. Called "street smarts" to rouse his pack to frenzy. by old, female on November 20 2009, 09:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema oh my Malema Juvenile Julius has almost responded with a passion play of note. He should understand that the government has already nationalised SAA, SABC, Eskom, and a few others - how is he proposing to run the mines for example when these nationalised assets . .more are poorly run. Also the proposal is to democratise these assets for the betterment of all the people - they can hardly hold up these nationalised units as models on which to support the grabbing of the mining industry. Anyway the gold mining industry in this county is going backwards rapidly - so maybe they should nationalise them and show the world how they can run dying businesses - reminds of the successes they are having with HIV Aids Juvenile Julius your mouth always precedes your brain . .less by what a chop on November 20 2009, 09:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

content how does a guy who fails woodwork and cant string a coherent sentence together on TV write this. what a joke - he probably doesnt even understand it. by mj on November 20 2009, 09:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Political scientology ... based in truth but 'vrot' with lies Never deal in the truth, never acknowledge it nor wrestle with its constraints ... twist it up with lies, with partial/convenient truths and with jargon and many will be deceived. Its what these politicians deal in (and incidentally also at the root of . .more the current financial crisis). Where are South Africa's true statesmen and visionaries? . .less by Believer (... not!) on November 20 2009, 10:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

well, what if julius actually wrote this? we often label misguided zeal as stupidity. julius is no idiot and that why so many whites loathe & fear him. and he really looks a lot like mao :) by meetjoeblack on November 20 2009, 10:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Julius please visit Zimbabwe to see the future A good response - a pity about the racial undertone of whoever wrote it. Its a pity it is not as easy as it sounds ... creating and encouraging new investment from anywhere will reward your people..not just taking existing successful business. Take a . .more walk in Zimbabwe to see the future of your current thinking. . .less by Fred on November 20 2009, 10:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mock him all you like This guy, and his policies, are our future. And it does not bode well. by Swazi on November 20 2009, 10:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Unbelievable Juju Baby would have us believe that he is a. capable of writing ANYTHING at all let alone this b. more communist that Jeremy Cronin Stand in line, Juju Baby.. No, no, right at the back...if you can find it. Stop . .more fiddling! Wipe that dribble from your chin! Okay, Juju, that's it, you are now going to have to stay in after school. . .less by Al on November 20 2009, 10:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Eish-Beeg Wedds Baas Ellekk hee rite thees forra mee. by J.M. on November 20 2009, 10:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema A very good article, Comrade Malema... A very good article indeed. by Moxster on November 20 2009, 10:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JM JC & SACP are quite correct in punting for "socialisation" within a free enterprise system as opposed to "Nationalisation". Nationalisation has never empowered or enriched the "people". It is more likely to harm an economy and thus its people whilst . .more further enriching the few that control it. It is time for JM to learn that entrepreneurs create wealth whilst politicians & civil servants spend it. So do not **** with the hen that lays the golden egg irrespective of colour or creed. And who does JM propose should run the "commanding heights of the economy"? The recently axed CEOs' of our parastatal companies or his good friend from Harare? . .less by Wiseguy on November 20 2009, 10:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JM JC & SACP are quite correct in punting for "socialisation" within a free enterprise system as opposed to "Nationalisation". Nationalisation has never empowered or enriched the "people". It is more likely to harm an economy and thus its people whilst . .more further enriching the few that control it. It is time for JM to learn that entrepreneurs create wealth whilst politicians & civil servants spend it. So do not **** with the hen that lays the golden egg irrespective of colour or creed. And who does JM propose should run the "commanding heights of the economy"? The recently axed CEOs' of our parastatal companies or his good friend from Harare? . .less by Wiseguy on November 20 2009, 10:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JM JC & SACP are quite correct in punting for "socialisation" within a free enterprise system as opposed to "Nationalisation". Nationalisation has never empowered or enriched the "people". It is more likely to harm an economy and thus its people whilst . .more further enriching the few that control it. It is time for JM to learn that entrepreneurs create wealth whilst politicians & civil servants spend it. So do not **** with the hen that lays the golden egg irrespective of colour or creed. And who does JM propose should run the "commanding heights of the economy"? The recently axed CEOs' of our parastatal companies or his good friend from Harare? . .less by Wiseguy on November 20 2009, 10:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ja sure Woody (aka Julie baby) If Malema wrote this article, I will take up woodwork classes as penance for my insolence! by Reaper on November 20 2009, 10:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JOOJOO JooJoo you naughty boy you did not write this yourself! by Andy on November 20 2009, 11:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Obviously Cronin is a racist Does anybody have an idea what a 'reactionary' is? by Cynic on November 20 2009, 11:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

who wrote this claptrap for you julius ? Take your comrade Russian cr-p and shove it. by Basil on November 20 2009, 11:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

seems a carefully orchestrated plan to me First we have a well written article from SACP about their policy with regards to nationalization of the mines and the next day an equally well written reply from the ANCYL. All the while we have complete silence from the president. Something is up and it . .more smells. Looks to me the SA public is being primed for the storm that lies ahead. . .less by Mischa on November 20 2009, 11:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

And all from a bunch of dimwits that could not string a coherent sentence together if they tried nochal by Mischa on November 20 2009, 11:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Time to get out... Don't mock the little pr**k. The dark clouds have gathered over SA, and do NOT look back in 3 years time at all that is broken, maimed, raped and pilfered, crying, we never saw this coming! The open hatred of the whites, policies and strategies that . .more Stalin would have been proud of and Hitler too afraid to declare in the open, are on the table. The current crop of incompetent bloated ticks aka Government by any other name, are having their day and then will pass the carcass of SA on to the kids (Malema et, al). South Africans of ALL racial groups who thing rationally; it is time to get out or face slow suffocation by the grasshoppers. Don't ask! . .less by The Saint on November 20 2009, 11:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

My President keeps on growing in stature He is a marvel indeed. Well balanced article President Malema never sell out to the right wing and keep on exposing these fake communists. by Jemza on November 20 2009, 11:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema hits it on the HEAD! Why were the mines not nationalized in 1994? Was it mere coincidence that Chris Hani, Oliver Thambo, and Adries Treurnicht ended up dead in the space of a few days in April 1993, a critical time in SA history? Right, I know, I'm just a conspiracy nut.. by bittereinder on November 20 2009, 11:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Vat hom Flaffie !!! Vat hom laag !!! by pj on November 20 2009, 11:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Vavi Where is Vavi's response - or did they run out of ghost-writers? Viva Cronin! by pj on November 20 2009, 11:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

copy and paste.... @julius.. well done, if these are your words... i'm a white oke and i firmly belive that the people need to be compensated for the wealth beneath our feet.. i ask though....am i included in "the people"? or is it just black . .more people?........bearing in mind i'm 5th generation south african....so i am south african, like you....anyway... . .less by Super Duper on November 20 2009, 12:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

flying pigs.. it was once said.... never play in the mud with a pig..you'll get dirty and the pig might enjoy it..... by Super Duper on November 20 2009, 12:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Julius is a viking!!! Hey Julius , you remind me of a viking bezerker !!! I know there is no word for that in Pedi!! Basically , its a guy who through his incoherent irrational and scary behaviour , forces the opposing army to run away in fear!! Not us my friend! we will stop . .more you in your tracks! . .less by White and proud on November 20 2009, 12:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I don't care I don't care who wrote it... I don't care how long it is... and I don't care how intellectual it is... The government has failed to Eskom, SABC, SASSOC, ArmsCore, everything they touch turns to S***... why would we take SA's biggest sector and do the . .more same? because Julius wants to help his mates out with a black Merc AMG? This is a bad idea... A BAD BAD IDEA... whatever way you put it! . .less by Simon on November 20 2009, 12:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Beneficiation Only a few will benefit from nationalisation and that is old Julius and his friends. We only need to look at what Jacob and his friends in parlaiment do with our taxes to realise that old motormouth Julius wants to use the Freedom Charter as an excuse to . .more help himself to the minerals of SA. . .less by Julius on November 20 2009, 12:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

communists I found it funny that Malema "knows" so much about communism. I had been unfortunate enough that growing up in communist Eastern Europe I had to study marxism (the founding philosphy of communism) at university level. We were told (unofficially of course) . .more that both Marx and Engels were racists and considered the non-white people inferior. This can be found in several of their letters and comments. See: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50724 Remember the SACP slogan: "Workers of the world, unite and fight for a white South Africa!" . .less by the_hun on November 20 2009, 13:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Nearly... Julius nearly got through without a racist knee jerk, but slipped up in the last line.... by Mike on November 20 2009, 13:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Swazi I agree with you. Our tendency to mock this imbecile runs the risk of obfuscating the very real threat that he personifies. For a more elegant and cogent exposition on this, see Jacob Dlamini's column in the Business Day . .more yesterday: http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/Content.aspx?id=87495 . .less by Jean Racine on November 20 2009, 13:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I find it funny that when I mentioned in past comments on other articles the persuasive, charming, hard working, intellectual and skilled negotiators that underpin the expendable puppets that currently dominate the public stage I received mocking jibes. Seems you are now . .more accepting that the players are formidable opponents. Promote free market solutions at your peril, they have it sussed. . .less by . on November 20 2009, 14:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ok who really wrote that???? And similar to Nelsons long walk to freedom - is there an abridged version? by Frikkie on November 20 2009, 14:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

that boy julius again i can see why you got 20% for woodwork jules...its because you was focusing on your english. good article boy, could understand what da P*** u were on about, but nice anyway... by whip me on November 20 2009, 14:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JM's reply to JC Malema, if you wrote that article I'll eat my chisel. by The Bard on November 20 2009, 14:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

violent crime This morning on 702 news they reported on the woman who, after being hi-jacked was then driven to a 60metre bridge and thrown off. -for no reason. The report included a warning from the authorities, to:- 'be extra alert from now on because the motive for . .more hi-jackings and robberies etc (S.A's national sport), is no longer for material gain only, but more for the desire to kill. The inference being that it is pointless giving in and surrendering without resistance as they want your life, and not neccesarily your possesions. Did anyone else hear this ? If its true, surely it suggests something akin to blatant terrorism . I wonder what the Canadians would make of the report. . .less by Soft target on November 20 2009, 15:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

wow after reading all that i wondered what stimulating comments might take this important debate forward...but since no one has shown the capacity to reason - and most have resorted to ridicule - i might have to start taking the only person who really takes . .more himself seriously...well uhm...seriously! julle vleg nou net p**le. . .less by trac on November 20 2009, 15:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Outsourcing is the way to go Julius obviously now has the means to employ a ghost writer. He should follow JZ's example and plump for the best. This would mean employing a whitey, which might annoy the BMF. But so what? If JZ can do it, why not his anointed President- in- . .more the- making? . .less by flebus on November 20 2009, 15:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Julius and only Julius alone........ Julius and only Julius alone can generate 50 comments with ease.......effortlessly. Your great grandkids will definitely read about Malema in their history ...like it or not. by Jules on November 20 2009, 15:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What a response What a response by Fikile Mbalula. I am enjoying this, come Cronin we have been asking for the debate on the matter. You have now gotten the pig out of the sack we can now discuss the matter. I still feel that there is too much of high tackles . .more and missing the ball but we are getting there. And for those who are worried about English perhaps Mbaks should have responded in isiXhosa because this is not an English class even the queen could have appreciated this level of effort but I know small minds focus on small things. Dont let me down Cronin on Monday I will brwose the page. Infact why dont you go on the Big Debate so that we can here Malema repeat these views with the a similar level of coherence. . .less by Gambu on November 20 2009, 16:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Speechless sorry whaat? Ph@ck me gently with a jackhammer. Julius is hiding his true talent. I am amazed. But what does he mean? Did the collapse of communism prove nothing? Give me facts not a load of highly worded fiction. Where has this great shining example . .more of communism ever worked anywhere? I must be totally stupid, but is our government going to run this concept correctly this time?(like Escom etc.) LMAO. . .less by Bryan on November 20 2009, 18:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Communism Only in Africa will they still attempt to market communism and everything else that has failed worldwide. How many times will Africans walk away from the wall with bloodied foreheads before they realise that the wall will not move. by Pieter on November 20 2009, 19:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Gambu It may not be an English class, but it is an English blog. It would have made no difference anyway, it would be worthless gobbledygook in any language. Communism is not dead, it was stillborn. It never got off the ground. It is just a load of C*** to gain . .more power for a few by conning poor uneducated fools that it is in the interest of those fools to put the power-hungry con-men into power. . .less by Jeff on November 20 2009, 22:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I bet you Julius wrote his speech with a red wax crayon on a oily.. tjeekan brownpaper he picked up in from of some Tjeekan take-away shoppe, this speech above was done by someone else... come on Julius show us your true colors, draw some pics with your crayons where you sit on your tricycle. by whataphoezjulius on November 21 2009, 07:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Proof of the pudding is in the eating I rest my case by Andrew on November 21 2009, 10:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Garbage Well-drafted garbage. I just wish Malema could ask the author to explain to him what this artcile means. by S Maseko on November 21 2009, 11:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Garbage Well-drafted drivel.Malema is not capable of writing such garbage.This garbage is too sophisticated for him by S Maseko on November 21 2009, 11:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Nationalisation these 2 pen pals are debating how it should be done, not whether it's going to happen. That is scary, and agree with Simon's sentiments above, because, ANC to date has not made any success stories out of major parastatals it has been in control of to . .more date. Simple. In fact, they were prime examples of what not to do. So much money down the drain... FFS, additional responsibility is handed over to someone who has proved they can handle more of it, not to those who have repetitively failed? I could not give a flying phuque about who is in charge, whether it's the okes in London, Tokyo, New Delhi, etc, or the locals, in fact if they performed at the same level, I would prefer locals, but locals are not performing. Never mind performing, what about theft? They haven't even solved Eskom mess, yet they want to take over mines and minerals, and blah, blah, blah. WTF??? Why don't they start solar and wind energy projects, surely that would be useful. We have plenty of both resources. Noooooo, phuuuk that, they want existing businesses, backbones of the economy to play around with. What benefit have we received with "democratised monopolies"? Telkom? Eskom? . .less by Rogi on November 21 2009, 13:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Nationalisation of Mines It is not a paradox that Transnet,Eskom,SABC,SAA have problems like many entities world-wide.America is the same etc.Nationalisation of our resources does not always mean 'turn in it in to State Entitie'.Malema said it. We need a model to be debated by . .more all. I believe there is no Communist dead or alive. All will exploit to get a bigger share. Jeremy is not telling the truth but playing with words.We are being stripped of our resources without compensation! China is so protective of their own country and resources but are everywhere in Africa sucking all we have! We are poor and really this is a solution! The how needs debate! Thanks to the Youth-Leage President.We are supporting you.The ANC will not want it because they are in the pockets of those robbing us of our wealth! Welldone Malema! . .less by Senzo on November 21 2009, 14:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Floyd wrote this for malima Some1 wrote this for malima. He cannot think like this. And I think i know the person - Nyiko. by Chief on November 21 2009, 14:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

PROFESSOR MALEMA VRS JEREMY The "prof" says they have political power and that Jeremy this time is speaking for white reactionaries ironic indeed.But it is obvious the centre is not holding considering the bickering.Citizens please hold on to the fall out as we navigate this complex . .more ship thrrough the somali sea.Dont loose hope yet we are in a reformatory that has lost its psychologist.THE ALLIANCE IS IN TURMOIL .WHERE IS COMRADE VAVI? PLEASE ENTER THE FRAY WITH YOUR 2 MILLION SUPPORTERS.ANY STRIKE? . .less by JOE on November 21 2009, 14:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

debate What struck me most clearly about the two articles (Cronin's and Malema's) is the contrasting tone. Cronin's tone is that of the objective debator who logically sets out an argument based on reason not personal antagosism...Malema's (or whoever is . .more representing Malema) is a highly personalized monologue that doesnt to my mind deal with they key issues raised by Cronin . I am neither a marxist nor a member of the ANC but of the 2, in these articles, I must say that the Marxist is far more convincing... . .less by CM on November 21 2009, 15:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Julius M If JM (& Writer) really believe that the readers of this column are such idiots that they will accept this s--t as being JM work. Iit is time that we idiots concoct and plot a trap for JM and his kind that will devour them. Trouble is JM & mates . .more won't notice the fall. One cannot teach or demonstrate good 'good or bad behaviour' to them, they don't respond either-way. . .less by Driewiel on November 21 2009, 15:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JM One should dare JM to come and read this so called response to an audience. Bet he would get by the first three paragraphs. Then ask him to explain the contents of the letter. Nnnnooo!! One cannot ridicule this guy. He does a better job . .more of this and anyone. . .less by Driewiel on November 21 2009, 15:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

A welcome sight "When you see discord amongst the troops of your enemy, be of good courage; but if they are united, then be upon your guard. When you see contention amongst your enemies, go and sit at ease with your friends; but when you see them of one mind, string your . .more bow, and place stones upon the ramparts." - Moslih Eddin (Muslih-un-Din) Saadi (Sadi) . .less by SoLaR on November 21 2009, 15:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@SoLaR What you see is often only what you perceive it to be. Do not understimate the enemys ability to deceive. They are clever bastards. by . on November 22 2009, 16:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Bottom line. The bottom line remains the same : Nationalisation of the mines in SA would be insane! by Oompah on November 22 2009, 21:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

malema thats why he needs body guards to keep on talking rubbish by ivan on November 23 2009, 08:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SOLD OUT SOLD OUT Exactly my point. As I commented to Cronin's piece, section 25 of the constitution must go and the ruling party has a political power to do that. The majority of the comments just exposes that having acess to technology does not necessarily amount to . .more being knowledgable. Why people cant use the space to advance their arguments instead and stop hauling and express of hate. I m nt ANC nor ANCYL memeber. . .less by Moses Gayiya on November 23 2009, 09:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema should go to school first juluis is clueless about nationalisation of mines-he just like to talk about it- he is a complete fool, if he want to prove to the SA youth that he is their leader he should them why he thinks that mines shud b nationalised and not to call people . .more racists- he should convince us that he understand the term 'nationalisation'. this juluis boy is knows nothing about Marxism/ideology/hegemony. he knows nothing. . .less by Maca on November 23 2009, 09:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Leave Malema alone The individuals who are hurling insults at the ANCYL president are just misguided and jealous.One doesnt need a degree or a masters to lead an organisation.Whether Malema hired a ghost writer or not is not an issue here.Thats is why Head of States employ . .more speech writers.History is littered with leaders who possessed more than three degrees but destroyed in all manner the civilisation of the country they purport to lead.Until as black people we learn to accept that there is inequality in the distribution of wealth the gap between the rich and the poor will continue to widen.The inequality was a creation of the colonial government which favoured its own kith and kin empowering them to become rich and starve the African man.The concept of nationalisation is about equal distribution of wealth by aligning more to the disadvantaged.We have become adept and good at using political power but more need to be done by the government to use political power to gain economic advantage.The liberation struggle was about achieving equity in the distribution on wealth.THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES. . .less by Simbarashe Zarura on November 23 2009, 10:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema's ghost writer I say this without any fear of contradiction that Mbalula wrote this piece. Malema is incapable of quoting from any book now or in history. Malema and Zuma are incapable of reading. by Lwi on November 23 2009, 10:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mo ja morago ke kgoshi (The one who laughs last laughs the best) Write Malema off, belittle him and reduce him to your desired nothing but check who shall laugh last. Malema is one man who stands for the truth and is not afraid to tell it like it is. If there is a mesiah for Africans and those who stand for the truth . .more this is one. Enjoy your make believe trip, he is here, you can not do away with this incredible son of the soil, thanks to the one above for keeping him for us. . .less by Marumo on November 23 2009, 16:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

He who laughs last is of slow wit, and in your case - slow understanding. by @Marumo on November 23 2009, 21:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Name
Subject
Comment