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The anger displayed by Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is justifiable, Nelson Mandela's former private secretary Zelda la Grange said on Wednesday. But such anger needed to be tempered with respect when debating opponents, she told a Cape Town Press Club lunch to promote her newly launched book Good Morning Mr Mandela. "I'm not saying that Julius's anger is not justifiable -- it is. But I would like to see people respecting each other more."
'Julius has reason to be angry and some of the things he says I actually agree with'
La Grange said this was a lesson former president Mandela had taught her, and referred to talks between her former boss and FW de Klerk.
"They got very angry with each other but never in a disrespectful manner.
"There was never any point where the one said to the other 'you are nothing' or where the one showed the other the middle finger."
Such behaviour would be unacceptable, La Grange said.
"Julius has reason to be angry and some of the things he says I actually agree with, but... I can't associate with any kind of disrespect people show to one another."
Earlier, responding to a question on whether she had any ambition to go into politics, she jokingly replied: "Unless someone gives me a beret I won't go into politics!"
On her future plans La Grange said she was thinking of studying towards a degree in leadership and management.
"But I am not overeagerly trying to plan my life ahead."
She described her book as "a very simple story, it's my story".
She said it was not a "tell all" book.
"Everybody expected me to write one but that is not what it is."
