Malema drinks Moët, elderly get water
2010-03-03 22:47
Johannesburg - Julius Malema, leader of the ANC Youth League, on Wednesday celebrated his 29th birthday with expensive French champagne, while the thousands of elderly people who attended the festivities had to settle for bananas, apples and water.
"I'm still living in poverty today, because as long as a neighbour of mine is struggling, I, too, am struggling," Malema told the crowd, shortly before popping the cork of a bottle of Moët et Chandon Rosé which, according to Caroline's Fine Wines, costs R703 a bottle.
Praise poets prayed for Malema, who grew up in Seshego outside Polokwane and laid their hands on him.
"We hope you will be our next South African president," the praise poets said as the approximately 2 000 senior citizens cheered.
Free blankets, cellphones
The crowd were on their feet and stretched their arms out toward him, while Malema sat in a chair on stage with his head bowed.
Malema gave blankets and cellphones to the elderly who danced on stage with him.
A stream of people pushed toward the stage in the hope of also getting a blanket and a cellphone, but had to turn back empty-handed. The elderly crowd received bananas, apples and water.
They were taken to the celebration by bus and had to wait in the scorching heat for about three hours before Malema arrived at 12:00. In a marquee tent, selected guests were treated to biltong and birthday cake, decorated in the ANC colours.
Malema, who's been in the news over the past two weeks because he reportedly received about R140m worth of tenders from municipalities in Limpopo, said he "was raised in poverty".
"I didn't join the struggle to become a rich man. I must change the lives of my people, and nobody will stop me."
'Our future president'
Malema mostly spoke Sepedi and told the crowd that he "is the product of a poor family", and that he "will always respect the poor".
Cassel Mathale, premier of Limpopo and a good friend of Malema, denounced the media reports about Malema, especially those in the City Press, as lies. He added that he doesn't understand why journalists write such lies.
"Piet Rampedi (the journalist who wrote the reports), what is your agenda?" Mathale asked. He also added that "there is nothing illegal if Malema has business interests".
Mathale referred to Malema as "our future president of the republic".
Malema's grandmother, Sara Malema, 80, was with him to celebrate his birthday.
Slogans such as "Hands off Julius Malema, hands off!", "Viva Julius Vuvuzela Malema, viva!" and "Julius Blockbuster Malema" were chanted throughout the day.