Defiant Malema to continue 'revolution'
2012-10-08 22:21
Johannesburg - Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema will address mineworkers at the Meloding Stadium in Virginia, in the Free State, on Tuesday, the Friends of the Youth League (FYL) said.
In a statement the FYL, also known as the Economic Freedom Fighters, said the workers had invited Malema and members of the organisation to speak to them.
"This is unashamedly part of the mining revolution which will make all mines ungovernable until mine bosses have agreed to a minimum wage of R12 500 per month for all mineworkers and ultimately nationalisation of mines," it said.
Several weeks ago Malema spoke to mineworkers at several mines in support of their strike, and called for a national strike by mineworkers for at least four days a month until their salaries improved.
When he tried to speak at a mine near Rustenburg, police stopped him and escorted him from the North West town. He has not spoken publicly to miners since then.
The Hawks are investigating Malema after trade union Solidarity filed criminal charges of incitement to violence and intimidation against him.
This was following comments he made to striking mine workers urging them to make the mines "ungovernable".
Last month, Malema was granted R10 000 bail by the Polokwane Regional Court, where he appeared on a charge of money laundering.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela has said Malema could face a 15 year prison sentence if convicted.
The charge relates to a R52m tender awarded to On-Point engineers.
On-Point allegedly secured the tender fraudulently, and Malema is accused of benefiting from it.
According to court papers, deposits were made into Malema's Ratanang Family Trust to fund a farm and make payments for a luxury car.
Meanwhile, representatives of Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Limpopo will address striking workers at the Anglo Platinum mine in Amanda Belt on Tuesday.
Provincial secretary Dan Sebabi said representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) would join Cosatu at 07:00 on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the NUM said the mine planned to dismiss 8 000 workers at the mine after firing 12 000 illegally striking workers at its Rustenburg mine.
NUM secretary general Frans Baleni reportedly said striking workers at Amanda Belt could also face dismissals after joining an illegal strike.
- SAPA
