Julius Malema knows how to work a crowd. Especially a media crowd. Like hordes of populist politicians before him, the EFF leader includes just enough common sense to give his outrageous ideas some credibility. Journalists lap it up, even forgiving attacks on colleagues – like the “bloody agent” outburst against the BBC and anger at Gupta Media. And where the media goes, the vox populi follow. For the rational, discounting Malema is no longer an option. The 35 year old is poised to play an important role in South African politics for years into the future. On current trends, his party could well be the kingmaker after the 2019 national election. But be warned. Malema has warped economic ideas, despises organised business – he terms it “white monopoly capital” – and is hostile towards anyone who does not share his Marxist worldview. The realities of Venezuela, Argentina and Cuba disasters haven’t registered in the Malema consciousness because they don’t suit his story. He views “the market” as a malignant conspiracy to keep the poor in penury, rather than the complex accumulation of multitudes acting in their own self-interest. Like many populists before him, Malema has yet to discover he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. If you thought education was expensive, try ignorance. – Alec Hogg
By Lizeka Tadwa
Johannesburg – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan thinks he is untouchable, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema told journalists on Monday.
“Why would Pravin refuse to go to the Hawks? Why would Pravin try to behave like he is untouchable? Like if you touch him, this country will collapse. You don’t correct a wrong by doing wrong. Pravin must subject himself to the Hawks. It doesn’t matter how many drunkards are leading the Hawks today. Respect the institution called the Hawks.”
Malema said Gordhan was setting a precedent for South Africans to disrespect the Hawks.
He said South Africans could now tell the Hawks where to get off, because “we learnt from Pravin”. He said Gordhan should teach South Africans that when the law calls you to account, “be scared and respond”.
“When you are called by such institutions, as a political figure, you must restore and protect the image and the credibility of that institution. You just go. He [thinks] he is the most powerful man. He is untouchable. If you touch him the markets will react. We can’t have a minister appointed by markets.”
Read also: Hawks case against Gordhan a legal sham: expert insights
Defending the office of President Jacob Zuma, Malema said South Africans needed to protect the power of the presidential office.
He said South Africans should not be pleased that Zuma is losing his fight against Gordhan because this was rendering his office forever useless for incoming presidents.
Malema said the country could not be run by markets.
“When you take over that office, you will want to check who [Johann] Rupert wants… It can’t be. Let the markets and Rupert contest elections and appoint finance ministers. Finance ministers and ministers of Cabinet must be appointed by the president.” He said everyone “must allow the president that space”.
He said Gordhan was directly involved in the conflict of interest. Malema added that Gordhan’s business interests were what needed to be probed by the Hawks, not his tenure at Sars.
“The only thing which people can have legitimately against him is his business interest. A minister of finance having shares at Standard Bank, yet he must still supervise an institution that must supervise the banks. That is what we should be talking about… if you raise that, I am prepared to listen. Not these things of Sars.” –Â News 24
Source:Â http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/gordhan-thinks-he-is-untouchable-malema-20160905
Malema on new Joburg Mayor Mashaba: Stop the interviews, get to workÂ
Johannesburg – Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba must stop grandstanding and get on with his job, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said on Monday.
“If you go around pronouncing things like you have got power you are going to embarrass yourself,” he told reporters.
He advised Mashaba to stop doing so many interviews and get on with his job.
Malema praised Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga.
“That young man in Tshwane, he is just doing his work. He doesn’t attempt to become an instant celebrity, but we are monitoring him. We are monitoring everyone because we are the opposition.”
He said the EFF had no relationship with the Democratic Alliance and was not in a coalition with the DA.
On August 17, following the local government elections, Malema announced that the EFF would not enter into coalitions with the DA or African National Congress in hung municipalities.
It would instead vote with the DA in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay; with the Inkatha Freedom Party in hung KwaZulu-Natal municipalities; and the Forum 4 Service Delivery in Rustenburg.
“You have to behave proper otherwise you will be in trouble,” Malema warned Mashaba.
The EFF criticised Mashaba’s plans to split waste removal company Pikitup into separate entities and hand them to small businesses.
Malema said his public criticism of Mashaba was proof there was no coalition with the DA.
“If there was a coalition, when Mashaba misbehaves, that would have been subject to underground type of political management and get resolved there.
“We just voted for them to deal with an immediate threat, which was the ANC, and it ended there.” –Â News24
Source:Â http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/stop-grandstanding-malema-tells-mashaba-20160905
