Malema uses 'death, misery for comeback'
2012-08-31 22:16
Pretoria - Expelled ANCYL president Julius Malema is using death and misery in an attempt to make a comeback to mainstream politics, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Sdumo Dlamini said on Friday.
"That boy is walking on the bodies of all the people who were killed there [at Marikana]. He is expelled, derogatory, [a] renegade loose cannon. Who is Julius Malema?"
Dlamini was addressing a meeting of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union in Pretoria.
"I will not stop saying this, I have said it before. It was very wrong to take advantage of any people who are weak at any time to get back into the political system of this country.
"Nobody will be able to repair that boy, even doctors. I am not even affected by all his insults. I have made my point and I am still making it now."
Malema used a recent memorial service for the 34 Lonmin miners killed in Marikana, North West, to attack the government. On Thursday he arrived at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate's Court, where 270 Lonmin workers were appearing on charges of public violence and murder.
In a statement, the Friends of the Youth League said Dlamini was talking "nonsense".
Dlamini rubbished threats by Malema to make South African mines "ungovernable".
"Such utterances tell you that there is something wrong with that man. How can you say let us make mines ungovernable when you know that thousands of people are dependant on that economy?
"Something has gone wrong with his head, only that no one has taken him to a [mental] institution to have him certified. Something is also wrong in the heads of the so-called Friends of the Youth who believe their fortunes will turn through such a person," Dlamini said.
Describing Malema as "fired and condemned", Dlamini said he had become the mouthpiece of people trying to propagate chaos in South Africa.
Self defence
On Thursday, Malema promised to make all mines in the country ungovernable.
"We are going to lead a mining revolution in this country... We will run these mines ungovernable until the boers come to the table," he told workers at the troubled Aurora mine in Grootvlei, Springs.
"We want them to give you a minimum wage of R12 500. These people can afford R12 500. Mining in South Africa amounts to trillions of rands."
Regarding negotiations at the troubled Lonmin mine, Dlamini said there were ongoing discussions for all parties to sign a peace agreement, probably on Tuesday.
"We need to sign a peace accord where everybody will commit to stability, peace and condemn violence. They [the aggrieved miners] need to leave all those sharp objects," he said.
Dlamini said the policemen who opened fire on the workers on 16 August had acted in self defence.
"I am not even trained as a police [officer], but I can tell you that if you come to me, carrying a spear and I have a gun, I will defend myself. You would die a very foolish death if you do not defend yourself," he said to applause.
"It is a crime to go around carrying a sharp object. If you want a peaceful strike, leave the dangerous weapons at home. We are not ashamed to say this."
Regarding assertions by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), that it had been sidelined and therefore would not take part in the government-brokered peace accord, Dlamini said the newly-established union was lying.
"Yesterday they ran away [from the negotiations]. That man they call president [of Amcu] is now lying that they were locked [out]. It's a lie, they walked out," said Dlamini.
- SAPA
