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(NEWZIMBABWE) Malema 'planting seed of civil war’: Mantashe

Malema 'planting seed of civil war’: Mantashe
30/08/2011 00:00:00
by AFP

SUPPORTERS of Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of South Africa's ruling party's youth league, have been accused of trying to "plant the seed of civil war", as hundreds clashed with police in Johannesburg. Gwede Mantashe, the African National Congress's Secretary-General, said the violence was the worst seen in Johannesburg's central business district since apartheid ended in 1994.

Stone and bottle-throwing started early Tuesday morning and police responded almost immediately with rubber bullets, stun grenades and water canon fire. Car windows were smashed, rubbish bins were set slight and there were reports that people travelling to work were dragged from their cars and told to join the protesters.

Several blocks around the ANC headquarters were sealed off with razor wire, behind which stood riot police with helmets and plastic shields.

Clashes between police and supporters of Malema erupted in Johannesburg as the outspoken leader appeared before the ANC's disciplinary committee accused of "sowing dissent".

"If this is an attempt to intimidate, it is not working," Mr Mantashe said. "Whoever brought this crowd here will have to take responsibility."

Malema and his supporters are openly challenging President Jacob Zuma and the ANC leadership, who they accuse of trying to "silence" them in their calls for wealth distribution through mine nationalisation and Zimbabwe-style land seizures.

The party has charged the Youth League president and his senior aides with sowing dissent in ANC ranks and bringing the movement into disrepute through attacks on Zuma and a recent call for the overthrow of President Ian Khama in neighbouring Botswana.
Malema, who faces expulsion from the party in the coming weeks if found guilty, could form a breakaway party.

During a postponement in the hearing, the 30-year-old emerged from the ANC's Luthuli House and was given a hero's welcome.

Wearing a black beret and a black T-shirt bearing the slogan "Economic Freedom Fighters", he told the estimated 3,000 people who converged in a public square to hear him speak to stop attacking police and burning ANC flags.

He reminded them that their gripe was with the current leadership, not the party of Nelson Mandela.

But he said the ANC youth league and its "revolutionary struggle" was the "only hope" for unemployed and impoverished South Africans.

"The silencing of the youth league is the silencing of the voice of the voiceless. The youth league is the only organisation that speaks on behalf of the poor," he said.

He called on protesters not to attack journalists or police, adding: "You must know who is the enemy," at which the crowd roared: "Zuma is the enemy".

Several journalists and a police officer were injured by flying rocks and broadcasting equipment damaged.

Malema has often claimed the media who reported the corruption claims that have dogged him are backed by right-wing extremists and "imperialists".

Kebby Maphatsoe, the chairman of the veterans' association of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC formed by Mandela to fight apartheid, said the violence during the day was carefully organised.

"Their actions are clearly meant to divide our communities and ultimately the South African society," he said.

"Their deliberate actions are clearly meant to plant the seed of a civil war in our country."

Bongani Mani, the president of Cosas, South Africa's student union, condemned the involvement of schoolchildren, some of whom were reportedly bussed in from Soweto in the middle of the day, still in their uniforms.

Labels: ANC, ANC YOUTH LEAGUE, GWEDE MANTASHE, JULIUS MALEMA

posted by MrK @ 4:37 PM