Struggle songs part of our heritage - Malema

2011-01-24 08:28

Alet Rademeyer, Beeld

Johannesburg - ANC Youth League president Julius Malema says he is willing to go to the Constitutional Court "to defend the revolutionary struggle songs which belong to the nation".

After the lekgotla of the youth league's national executive council (NEC) in Boksburg on Sunday, Malema said struggle songs will never be banned again.

He was responding to questions about civil rights initiative AfriForum's Stop Malema campaign and their looming court battle with him.

The organisation obtained a temporary interdict against Malema last year, which forbade him from singing a song with the words "Dubul’ ighunu" ("Shoot the Boer").

Culture and heritage

Malema explained heatedly on Sunday that the song doesn't belong to him, but to the ANC and that it's part of their culture and heritage.

He said he would fight AfriForum tooth and nail and that no court would forbid the song.

According to Malema, the song is not aimed at Afrikaners at all.

"There are Afrikaners in the ANC who sang it themselves. Why would they sing 'kill me'?

"The song is about destroying a system: Apartheid, a system which looks down upon others and where the minority owned everything."

According to Malema the song shouldn't be a legal matter, but should rather encourage national debate on the topic.

Successful year for ANCYL

As far as the lekgotla is concerned, he said the conclusion was that 2010 was an extremely successful year with the sharpening of political programmes to achieve economic freedom in the youth league's lifetime.

He said the nationalisation of mines is firmly on the ANC's agenda. Research is being done on the best way for South Africa to take ownership and control of mines and underground resources.

Malema also said the youth league has been inspired by the number of young people who responded to their call to "love education".

"The long queues at universities and universities of technology confirm that young people want to obtain skills and knowledge. We are calling on the government to make massive investments to expand universities and colleges to accommodate as many students as possible."

- Beeld