Malema is no clown - Jansen

2010-03-09 21:44

Michael Hamlyn

Cape Town - Free State University rector Jonathan Jansen warned on Tuesday that it is a mistake to view ANCYL leader Julius Malema as a public clown.

Jansen told a National Business Initiative meeting in Cape Town: "Don't be surprised if one day he ends up as your president."

"One of the mistakes that people make is to look at Julius Malema as a public clown".

"It's a big mistake," he said.

He described the present leaders as "uncouth", adding: "Albert Luthuli must be turning in his grave."

Jansen spoke about leadership generally, saying that leadership has to be emotional.

"You must understand and feel and smell and listen to the fear and pain and loss of the people," he said. "You also have to understand the policy of the vanquished."
 
Despite the incomparable example of Nelson Mandela, he said, we seem to forget how difficult it is.

"You also have to understand your own emotions, and your own brokenness," Jansen added.

He stressed the importance of leading by example.

"The best way to convince people is to be an example of what you are calling for," Jansen said.

- I-Net Bridge (News24)