Malema: The enemy defeated
2012-01-06 20:07
Thaba'Nchu - ANC Youth League president Julius Malema had a tilt at "the enemy" [the media] on Friday for wrongly predicting that he would not make it to the ANC's centenary celebrations as his appeal against his suspension would fail.
"We have defeated the enemy. The enemy said we will not be in Mangaung. We are in Mangaung," he said at a mini-rally in Thaba'Nchu in the Free State.
The "enemy" was now focusing on whether or not he would be given an opportunity to address the crowds when President Jacob Zuma delivered his January 8 statement on Sunday.
"I am in Mangaung and I am speaking now. There has never been a year in which the league speaks.
We stand, greet people and sit down. They must not confuse greeting with speaking," Malema said to thunderous applause from the crowd in the packed hall of the Moroka high school.
"President Zuma will speak on behalf of all of us. He was elected, whether we like him or not."
Malema and five other top ANCYL officials were suspended from the party in November last year for bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing division in its ranks.
The appeal process was still underway although it had been expected to be finalised before the centenary celebrations.
Malema concluded his address by singing the revolutionary song "Sisaya" - changing the words to "Siyaya eMangaung noma besi-suspenda, besixhosha, besibopha. (We are going to Mangaung even if they suspend, chase us away and arrest us).
ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete told reporters on Wednesday that Malema would not be given the podium on Sunday, when Zuma would deliver his address in Bloemfontein.
Mbete said all messages of support, including Malema's, would be compiled into a booklet to be distributed to the 100 000 people expected to attend the ANC's centenary festivities over the weekend.
- SAPA
