Cope slams Malema as 'village idiot'

2010-10-16 20:30

Johannesburg - The Congress of the People on Saturday appealed to the African National Congress to deal decisively with its Youth League's leader, Julius Malema, over a remark that the Soccer World Cup was an "imperialist activity".

"Cope calls on the ruling party to decisively deal with... populist nonsense emanating from its ranks," said Cope's spokesperson Phillip Dexter.

"It is time to return this 'village idiot' back to where he came from."

Malema called the 2010 FIFA World Cup an "imperialist activity" which brought people to SA for the purpose of exploitation when welcoming the organising committee of the 17th World Festival for Youth and Students.

Cope says Malema's remark was an embarrassment to the people of SA.

"The Congress of the People rejects the view of the ANC Youth League Leader that the 2010 FIFA World Cup was an 'imperialist activity' which brought people to our shores for the purposes of exploitation," said Dexter.

He said for Malema to undercut the progress made during the World Cup in forging a national identity and marketing the country, amounted to an unpatriotic utterance.

"Whatever its shortcomings and the resultant costs, at the level of nation building and showcasing our country, the World Cup was a success.

"To now seek to undermine this success with petty point scoring and rank populism does not benefit anyone."

- SAPA