The Youth
Day Speech by the enthusiastic and uncompromising President of the ANC Youth
League, Julius Malema was very moving, energetic and breathtaking without
shying away to the pertinent issues that faces young people in South Africa.
But the part where he lambasted those who opened the debate about President
Zuma serving two terms was rather unfortunate.
The
comments that he made needs careful digestion and management as they may cause
further divisions within the movement and may hamper the now celebrated unity
within the alliance. It becomes clear that the comments were levelled against
COSATU, especially its Secretary General comrade Zwelinzima Vavi.
Firstly
Julius should have never responded in such a manner, mainly because he knows
that it was not COSATU’s intention to raise the matter, but it was asked by a
journalist. The question of whether President Zuma should serve two terms or
not was not in the media statement that was read by Vavi but was asked by a
journalist who thought that COSATU’s recent conflict with government over the
OSD saga meant they did not support the Zuma administration.
By
responding to the question comrade Vavi was playing in the hands of the media
and by responding publicly to what Vavi said, Julius was even giving victory to
the reactionary media. Even the YCL’s public support of what COSATU said must
be interpreted as accepting defeat by the media. Let’s all admit the media won
this round. Surely the journalist who asked the question is laughing all the
way to the bank, because he or she has received a ‘performance’ bonus from her
racist newsroom masters.
Comrade
Julius could have understood the agenda of the Journalist here very clearly
even after he first read the story. This is not to say that Comrade Vavi was
justified in responding to that particular question, but he deserves no attack
mainly because he, together with Sdumo Dlamini have apologised ( something that
is rare of Vavi).
Using
a media language referring to those that supported President Zuma, Julius went
further to state that the people who are saying that have no issues to discuss
beyond Zuma. That’s very unfortunate. This has been the belief of the media
when it comes to alliance partners, including the ANC Youth League, especially
him as an individual, but now comrade Julius uses this media smear to attack
another alliance partner, how unfortunate is that?
Moreover, COSATU including the YCL for that matter, are
currently involved in many campaigns aimed at restoring order and uplifting the
plight of the poor in this country and these range from the SABC, UNISA, OSD,
BRT, Telkom, Eskom, John Hlophe and many others. So the statement was rather
baseless.
On the
whole my view is that after hearing the COSATU statement the ANC, ANC Youth
League, YCL should have immediately contacted COSATU organising a meeting
between all of them and then issuing a joint press statement on the matter. That
is Working Together We Can Do More to defeat the liberal onslaught of the
media.
Luzuko Buku
YCL Chair Rhodes
0786172286
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You are subscribed. This footer can help you.
Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this
message.
You can visit the group WEB SITE at
http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options,
pages, files and membership.
To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You
don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put
anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this
address (repeat): [email protected] .
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
