Julius Malema on the state of the nation

JOHANNESBURG (Sapa) - ANCYL leader Julius Malema envisages a South Africa where the state owns 60 percent of all mines to "generate extra income" for the government.

"The nationalisation of mines will happen, the Freedom Charter says that," Malema told reporters in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The ruling African National Congress must have its mind made up about it in time for its next conference in 2012, said Malema.

An internal paper was already being drafted within the party for discussion, he said.

"We want the ANC in the conference in 2012 to pronounce what is the stand of the ANC on the nationalisation of mines... we need a decisive leadership, we don't want cowards," said Malema.

However, he was quick to explain this did not mean the government would "grab already existing mines".

"You don't grab already existing mines, you allow... their licences to expire. With the new licence you issue, you have that element of majority shareholding by the state.

"As you issue from now, moving forward, you're not giving 100 percent to the private sector, you're going into a 60/40 partnership."

He said a strategy was needed to see "how we do it without tampering with private ownership because there are laws that are binding us".

Malema moved to assure those who were concerned that the government would not be capable of running mines, saying the private sector, owning 40 percent, would ensure that everything ran smoothly.

"The private sector will ensure that standards are not compromised," said Malema.

"We are going to do this in partnership with the private sector but with us being the majority."

He insisted that the ANC was not being hijacked by leftist elements.

The nationalisation of mines was necessary to generate income for the government so that it could fund free education and provide better services to the people, said Malema.

"There is a need for us to make an extra income... and this extra income is in mines. This state can't build hospitals, it can't give people electricity, the pace is very slow because there is no money. We are relying only on tax.

"Where can we get extra money? It's beneath the soil and this soil belongs to us."

Sakhile township

Malema said he was planning to visit the volatile Sakhile township in Mpumalanga -- but has been warned by President Jacob Zuma "to behave" himself.

Malema would travel to the Standerton township on Wednesday, he told reporters.

But Zuma reacted warily when he heard of the plan, revealed Malema.

"He [Zuma] said to me, 'I hope you are not going to fuel the fire there because we have a problem we are dealing with'.

"So, we [the African National Congress Youth League] are called to order," said Malema.

According to the youth leader, Zuma warned him by saying: "If you go there, you must behave."

Malema also slammed violent protests, saying people burning tyres while wearing T-shirts bearing pictures of Zuma's face were discrediting the president.

"They [protesters] must barricade the roads with themselves, just standing on the road without fire. Then the police will not do anything to them.

"I'm going there tomorrow [Wednesday] to Sakhile. I'm going to tell them -- you don't have to burn, you must fight but you must not undermine the Constitution. Why must you burn a tyre?"

Malema lamented red tape and sluggish delivery by the government, acknowledging that the turn around time in service delivery was slow.

The Sakhile township saw violent protests in recent weeks with residents complaining of bad service delivery and demanding the resignation of the mayor and councillors.

On Thursday, ANC national executive committee members Fikile Mbalula and Malusi Gigaba visited Standerton for day-long meetings with municipal and provincial officials, church organisations, community leaders and local party structures.

The ANC leaders promised to report back to the community soon. Mbalula is also scheduled to visit the township on Wednesday.

SAFA

Malema warned local soccer authorities that in-fighting could jeopardise the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

"Comrade Irvin [Khoza] must instruct his forces to disarm and all must be rallied behind the elective leadership," said Malema, referring to the Premier Soccer League chairman who lost Safa's presidential race to Kirsten Nematandani last month.

Voting regions within Safa have disputed the election of Nematandani, who has since called for unity in the football fraternity.

"It is petty squabbles that are going to divert the attention of Safa [SA Football Association] from organising the World Cup... which will be taking place in Africa for the first time.

"Whatever allegations... that the elections were stolen... it is very important they put aside those differences. It cannot be that... personal interests be put before the interests of the country," Malema told a press briefing in Johannesburg.

He welcomed the new Safa leadership's decision "to let Joel Santana vacate the position of head coach".

Santana's resignation was announced after a Safa management committee meeting on Monday, with only eight months to go before the 2010 World Cup.

Under his leadership, Bafana Bafana fell to 85th position on Fifa's world rankings.

"We told the president of Safa [SA Football Association] Santana must go... what you must do as new leadership, you must take a major decision by firing this man," said Malema.

Malema was not impressed by rumours that another Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira may return to the position he vacated last year because his wife was seriously ill. He has been widely tipped to be making a come-back.

"If Parreira comes back, it would be a setback because we have won with our local coaches, we have not won anything with these foreign coaches. And we have made that point clear to Safa."

Even if Bafana Bafana lost under a local coach, it would at least be in a "dignified way", said Malema.

"We reaffirm our call for the appointment of a local coach to take Bafana to the World Cup in 2010. We want to lose or win under our own local coach. If we lose, we will lose under our own and we will appreciate and welcome those type of achievements.

"A local coach will do away with conspiracy theories... on the loyalty of some of these coaches who are coming to coach even if they are not from here.

"A national coach must be a person who's patriotic and pride himself on being South African.. who does not have a divided loyalty, who knows when he does not perform, not only the public... but also his immediate family members... will complain to him directly.

"We need a person who will receive both pressures from all corners. To them [foreign coaches] it's just about a job of their own... it's not about personal pride."

Malema said all Bafana's major victories happened under local coaches, such as the African Nations Cup win in 1996 under Clive Barker.

But Barker would not make the cut this time, if it was up to Malema.

"Why would we want to be coached by Shakes Mashaba, Jomo Sono or Clive Barker? They're old. Let's give the new ones an opportunity to emerge. The old must allow the new to be born... and to rise in football."

Malema's first choice would be Lucas Radebe, 40.

"We can build a solid team with Lucas Radebe as coach. Lucas expresses himself very clearly and independently. He's not a stooge or tool of any individual in the football fraternity and that makes them very uncomfortable with this boy."

He said this would also solve the problem of communicating with players --- Santana was often criticised for his broken English.

"Lucas knows all these languages, including township lingo... and the language these boys use to communicate."

The former Bafana captain's lack of coaching experience did not damper Malema's enthusiasm.

"Like all the coaches, they've got their first time coaching [there has to be a first time]," he said.

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responses to this article

What "Freedom Charter", has anyone every heard of this ? Face it, the 'revolution', 'redistribution', 'Africanisation' rubbish is never going to work. Threaten property rights and the Have's with just take away your economy. You don't create wealth by dividing it. Surely Africa realizes this by now? by Ken Doll on October 20 2009, 18:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"that makes them very uncomfortable with this BOY." Africans mature at WHAT age, if 40 is a "boy ?" Explains the chaos after 50 yrs freedom in Africa ! ANC - your child has TOLD you WHAT you must do, finish and klaar. The Lord of The Flies commands and adults quiver in fear. Cry my . .more beloved country, . .less by old, female, paleface on October 21 2009, 06:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Surely Africa realizes this by now? " Ken Doll - Its an African Solution to African problems. Parasitic culture to feed off the productive, until they are bled to death. Wake up countrymen. Your 2010 vote is very vital to survival. Make it count ! by old, female, paleface on October 21 2009, 06:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

lesson Mr van der Merwa and I sat down the other day and had a very long conversation in which Mr van der Merwa conceded that, although he was accumulating worth and enriching himself, he was a communist in principle - we both agreed. We discussed a wide range . .more of issues until we reached the issue of nationalisation of mines. Later on the conversation I advised him (from what I had learned) that: with success as an objective, the critical concept that should underpin his thinking is understanding the interplay between himself and the environment. Just as my friend Mr van der Merwa has learned from this, I trust the DA will do the same. I pray that Premier "the little witch" Zille will not ask the question: who the hell do you think you are? . .less by King Zwakala on October 21 2009, 08:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

On the State of Julius Malema. He is a stupid person that just wants money, and just says what ever he needs. Does he live with the 'nation' he so speaks of... does he live in a shack? Why is he being put in the newspapers... He's like an old joke that nobody . .more laughs at anymore, but that silly/crazy keeps saying... ai ai... why do people respond to this C***.. ignore him please... dont even reply to rhis forum, and you'll see he'll be at the bottem of this website... this is just ridiculous... . .less by unknown on October 21 2009, 08:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Irrelevant It is amazing that you even bother to report what Malema says. His opinion is as irrelevant as he is and the more space you provide him the more you encourage him. You have elevated him to the pint that he really believes that he something of value to . .more offer. Rather just ignore him as there are plenty of other things to write about. At least try a week with no reference to him and I suggest the newspapers and radio stations do exactly the same. . .less by Nonews Malema on October 21 2009, 09:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malema Irrational buffoon he may be but do not lightly dismiss Malema. He is the public face of millions of young, greedy, unsophisticated blacks. by Wolf on October 21 2009, 10:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

King Zwakala... ...thc is known to have an adverse effect on attempting to make sense. by Green Boot on October 21 2009, 13:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Malama Malama speaks our language, the langauge of the poeple who understand that to make this country better you need fundamental changes to the economic and social structure at large. We need to make sure that the people consolidate what they have - political . .more power. No more are we going back to the age of oppression with Malema and the likes on the look out. Julues we support you mfana - keep it up! They will call you names put what you say is what we understand to be what is right - to them its taking away to us is development and redistribution so that we minimise the gap between the haves and haves not! The next issues that you should take up and i will support you as always is corruption and Indian influence (the bad influence of course and leave other the small portion of good Indians) . .less by Malamalism on October 21 2009, 13:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Malamaslism 'Mfana'...what's that? Anyway, 'redistribution' and 'revolution' and all that Afro-rubbish won't happen, accept it. You try minimize the wealth gap and the Have's will just remove your economy - just like in Zim. Sorry, but you'll have to create your . .more wealth, like everyone else had to. . .less by Ken Doll on October 21 2009, 15:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

U'RE STUCK WITH US U' RE STUCK WITH US DEAL WITH IT AND HAND OVER YOUR ILL GOTTEN GAINS, U KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT DON'T ACT DUMBSTRUCK. YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE BITTER ONES WITHOUT CREDENTIALS TO GO TO AUSTRALIA OR NZ, CANADA THINKS YOU'RE A JOKE THE WHOLE OF EUROPE . .more WON'T EVEN GIVE U THE TIME OF DAY ...........SHAME!! . .less by @kEN dOLL on October 21 2009, 15:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Unintelligible posts King Zwakala's post makes very little sense. Wtf has the DA got to do with Malema's rant. As for the last post by @kEN dOLL, that just does not make sense at all. Is it a first attempt at the English language? by Jeff on October 21 2009, 16:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Europe won't give me the time of day..? I doubt that since I have a Spanish passport and live half the year there. Ah, civilisation. Of course you'll need a visa... by Ken Doll on October 21 2009, 17:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Nationalise" the lottery A debate should be opened about "nationalising" the lottery. No costs on running it except staff and few betting machines! Billions to make in a month capable of funding BIG for the unemployed. Why have lottery ran by private individulas who are already . .more empowered? The returns on the lotto can fund education, health, housing, transport, and many many other activities. Then South Africa will be a prosperous country. Let's try it for five years, beginning in 2010. . .less by GN on October 21 2009, 19:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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