Sign up with GoogleStudents must fight to defend Zuma - Malema
23 January 2009, 07:49
By Anel Powell
ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema has told students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to defend the ruling party and its president, Jacob Zuma, against their political enemies as if they are "security guards" of the party.
"The leader of the revolution is under attack," he said.
"An attack on our leader is an attack on our revolution, which is an attack on our people. You are a guard in the revolution. You must be like a security guard and it's your duty to defend the ANC."
Malema, who arrived two hours late to address about 200 ANC and SA Students' Congress (Sasco) supporters at the Bellville campus, said if "they" wanted to get rid of Zuma, "they" would first have to get rid of the ANCYL.
"The responsibility of the student movement is to fight. If it does not, it will become irrelevant."
Students from outside the province should register to vote in the Western Cape instead of at home, Malema said.
"(The DA) will never defeat the ANC in the Western Cape."
Malema said the ANCYL had asked that the election be held on a Wednesday, so students could vote during lecture hours.
Past election days, however, have been declared public holidays.
"Let's defeat these people right in their backyards," Malema said, to applause and singing.
He urged students not to be swayed by other parties.
"There are new, fashionable parties, but they are not going to lead for a long time. They are excited because of the election. But the ANC was not formed out of excitement, or anger or bitterness. It was formed out of a need for a struggle for our people."
Affirmative action, Malema told the students, was the only way they would be able to compete with white graduates who'd had more opportunities while growing up.
"We are rejecting any notion that seeks to marginalise an African child."
Malema said the corruption charges against Zuma were politically motivated.
"The youth of South Africa will vote for Zuma. Come 2010, we will support Zuma as president. We don't care about the cases against Zuma."
Zuma was one of the party's most educated leaders as he was taught by "people on the ground. He understands that political economy means to put bread on the table. You don't need to go to Oxford University to know that".
Zuma had empathy with the unemployed because he was without a job after being fired as deputy president.
"He does not wait for Markinor studies to understand poverty. He understands as he is part of society."
Malema spoke highly of the ANC's former leaders.
"We need to ask will we produce leaders like Nelson Mandela?"
23 January 2009, 07:49
By Anel Powell
ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema has told students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to defend the ruling party and its president, Jacob Zuma, against their political enemies as if they are "security guards" of the party.
"The leader of the revolution is under attack," he said.
"An attack on our leader is an attack on our revolution, which is an attack on our people. You are a guard in the revolution. You must be like a security guard and it's your duty to defend the ANC."
Malema, who arrived two hours late to address about 200 ANC and SA Students' Congress (Sasco) supporters at the Bellville campus, said if "they" wanted to get rid of Zuma, "they" would first have to get rid of the ANCYL.
"The responsibility of the student movement is to fight. If it does not, it will become irrelevant."
Students from outside the province should register to vote in the Western Cape instead of at home, Malema said.
"(The DA) will never defeat the ANC in the Western Cape."
Malema said the ANCYL had asked that the election be held on a Wednesday, so students could vote during lecture hours.
Past election days, however, have been declared public holidays.
"Let's defeat these people right in their backyards," Malema said, to applause and singing.
He urged students not to be swayed by other parties.
"There are new, fashionable parties, but they are not going to lead for a long time. They are excited because of the election. But the ANC was not formed out of excitement, or anger or bitterness. It was formed out of a need for a struggle for our people."
Affirmative action, Malema told the students, was the only way they would be able to compete with white graduates who'd had more opportunities while growing up.
"We are rejecting any notion that seeks to marginalise an African child."
Malema said the corruption charges against Zuma were politically motivated.
"The youth of South Africa will vote for Zuma. Come 2010, we will support Zuma as president. We don't care about the cases against Zuma."
Zuma was one of the party's most educated leaders as he was taught by "people on the ground. He understands that political economy means to put bread on the table. You don't need to go to Oxford University to know that".
Zuma had empathy with the unemployed because he was without a job after being fired as deputy president.
"He does not wait for Markinor studies to understand poverty. He understands as he is part of society."
Malema spoke highly of the ANC's former leaders.
"We need to ask will we produce leaders like Nelson Mandela?"
