AWB calls on Zuma to rein in Malema

2010-04-06 08:39

Ventersdorp - The Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) on Tuesday called on President Jacob Zuma to stop ANC Youth League president Julius Malema from making inflammatory and racist statements.

"We want Jacob Zuma to stop Malema because he is agitating for a revolution. Malema makes inflammatory and racist statements all the time... he is trying to create racial hatred," said AWB spokesperson Pieter Steyn.

He was speaking outside the Ventersdorp Magistrate's Court where a 15-year-old youth and a 28-year-old man would appear for allegedly murdering AWB leader Eugene Terre'Blanche.

Steyn said since 2004 over 2 000 farmers had been murdered.

"The attacks is (sic) purely on boere folk, it is a method of land grabbing.

"We released a statement to Zuma to start governing. The ANC has got the country and now he needs to start governing it."

He said the killing could not have been over a labour dispute because one does not take a panga to settle a labour dispute.

"It's a pure political murder."

He said statements that were made by another AWB member about avenging the killing of Terre'Blanche had been retracted.

"That person was very close to Mr Terre'Blanche and was very stressed and emotional when he made the statement.

"That person has been called to order and there will be no revenge or racial slandering."

He said the party had faith in the justice system and that police investigations were "top notch".

Fewer than 100 AWB supporters and Afrikaners, some in their khaki uniforms, were waiting at the court on Tuesday around 08:00.

"We expect a large gathering of members but there will be no marching or slandering... we will discipline and control our members."
There was a huge contingent of police, and local and international media outside the court.

Police said the two accused were in the court holding cells by 08:00.

The case against the two accused would be held in camera as one of them is a minor.

- SAPA