Malema defends Zuma remark
2008-06-21 18:16
Durban - ANC Youth League president Julius Malema on Saturday defended his controversial statement that the youth league would kill for ANC president Jacob Zuma.
Addressing hundreds of people, some as young as 11, at the Claremont Sugar Ray Xulu stadium in Durban, Malema again stressed that the league would defend Zuma and not apologise.
"Everything we say, they (previous generations) said it before. If you blame somebody, you must blame a generation before us because we are just continuing a legacy," said Malema.
"We were told today that you are irrelevant if you speak a revolutionary language. Ours is victory and victory forever," he said.
During a Youth Day rally in the Free State on Monday Malema vowed that the youth of South Africa would die supporting Zuma.
Reams of criticism
Malema's statement provoked reams of criticism and prompted the SA Human Rights Commission to issue an ultimatum demanding a retraction of the statement.
Malema said those in the ANC who opposed Zuma must leave the party.
"They must leave now if they can't accept Zuma ... The ANC is not short of leadership. If you leave we have others to replace you."
Present at the rally were the South African Communist Party's Blade Nzimande, secretary general of the Young Communist League Buti Manamela, provincial secretary of the SA Communist Party Themba Mthembu and Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini. Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe left after an hour.
- SAPA