Malema supporters shock Twitter users
South Africans on twitter were shocked at the violence that flared up in the Johannesburg central business district ahead of ANCYL president Julius Malema’s disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
“I really cant believe what Malema supporters are doing. Is it necessary?,” a user wrote on the social networking site.
“#malema supporters once again F-ing our country up. Hasn’t he created jobs for them yet [sic].
“Any excuse to break or damage. This is planned mayhem.This is a taste of our future with Malema,” wrote another twitter user.
“i-ANC ilayekile!Malema has been out of control for a long time but because he was gaining followers for the party, it was overlooked!Look nw [sic].”
Journalists on the scene at Beyers Naude square said they were being targeted by the ANC Youth League supporters, who made it clear they were not welcome.
“Journalists being stoned. Youth League supporters chasing and threatening journalists. etv have just run for cover,” a journalist on the scene wrote.
“#Malema more riot police being called in. Photographer injured after rock hit him in the face AvW,” an Eyewitness News reporter wrote on twitter [sic].
“Most of these Juju hooligans look drunk. Even one leaguer agrees: “These guys have been drinking all night”. War zone…,” said another reporter.
The City Press newspaper tweeted that a Sapa journalist had been hit.
“It’s war again. A rock narrowly misses my head and hits fellow journo from Sapa #malema,” one of its reporters tweeted.
Sapa editor Mark van der Velden confirmed the association’s photographer, Werner Beukes, had been hit in the back by a rock thrown by unruly elements in the crowd.
Beukes was not badly injured.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he told Sapa reporter Hlengiwe Nhlabathi on the scene.
Van Der Velden expressed his disquiet at the attack on Beukes.
“This is clearly a case of assault. I will be following this matter up through the appropriate channels.”
Malema and his spokesman, Floyd Shivambu, league deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer general Pule Mabe were all facing charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing divisions in ANC ranks.
This was after Malema said the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change, as it believed the government there was “in full co-operation with imperialists” and undermining the “African agenda”.
Malema is facing the ANC disciplinary committee on Tuesday.
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