Protests for, against Malema

2009-08-31 13:42

Johannesburg - There were parallel protests outside the Equality Court in Johannesburg on Monday for ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and against comments that brought him to the court.

"Malema, fact is fact, you wrong", read a poster held aloft by the Sonke Gender Justice Network, while further down the pavement a League poster read "Youth League embraces gender equality".

Eugnia Jabulile Yamtcho said: "It's not fair, they are abusing Malema."

She was part of a group of about 50 ANCYL supporters singing and dancing next to a bakkie parked on the pavement at the court entrance, while policemen from four police vehicles looked on.

ANC treasurer general Pule Mabe mounted the back of the bakkie and told the group that Malema's lawyer was arguing his case and that judgment on his application to have it dismissed would be handed down at 14:00.

'Hands off our president'

Holding posters saying "hands off our president" the protesters then sang that people must leave Malema alone because he had done nothing wrong.

Mabe urged them to have a peaceful protest saying that as the youth league they should show the country that "you can register your point without burning clinics".

He was alluding to recent service delivery protests.

Further up the pavement Nyanda Khanyle said he was there to support the Network, as chairperson of its One Man Can campaign.

This campaign was aimed at raising awareness among boys and men on issues of sexual violence and the impact of HIV/Aids.

Responsible

"We say he (Malema) can be a new man and be responsible."

Later both groups of protesters broke for lunch with the Network eating a chicken lunch served from the back of their bakkie and the ANC people helping the local ice-cream seller do a roaring trade as they settled for ice lollies and water.

The Sonke Gender Justice Network complained about Malema's comment: "Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and ask for taxi money. In the morning, that lady requested breakfast and taxi money."

Malema was referring to a rape charge against President Jacob Zuma, on which he was acquitted in 2006 before he became president.

- SAPA