Malema slated for ‘threatening some sections of the population’

Leader of the Congress of the People (Cope) Mosiuoa Lekota has come out to rebuke EFF leader Julius Malema and President Jacob Zuma for allegedly inciting violence among South Africans.

He says elder members of parliament (MPs) condemn Malema for allegedly “threatening some of the sections of the population”. The Cope leader says MPs need to condemn the EFF leader for allegedly saying that some members of society must pray he doesn’t come to power.

“When the president says the things he says today, which are in conflict with that constitution … when he was part of it, and therefore misleading young people to do things that they are doing … I must speak!

“All the members of this House … all of us in this House carry that responsibility. We cannot keep quiet when honourable Malema, who’s not here this morning, stands on platforms and swears at some of the sections of the population. [He] threatens them, and says they must wait until he comes to power, and he will go and walk all over them. Hulle moet pasop [They must watch out].

“We can’t keep quiet! Men and women of backbone must speak so that our children are not misled. So that generations to come do not slaughter each other as the Tutsis and the Hutus slaughtered each other in the case of Rwanda.

“We must speak, comrades! Those of us at our ages cannot keep quiet. Because we know what can result from this thing. Whether you are black or white … whether you are Cope or EFF … we cannot allow you to say things that can make South Africans kill each other.”

Watch Lekota speaking below:

Speaking outside the Bloemfontein Regional Court in November last year, the EFF leader called on Afrikaners to pray to their “ancestors”, former SA prime ministers Hendrik Verwoerd and DF Malan, that the EFF wouldn’t take power.

“I don’t have anything against white people, but I have a problem because black people are suffering in this country. Why us? Are we a cursed nation? Did Jesus Christ die for us to suffer like this? What have we done to deserve such treatment in our own country? Why can’t you find waiters and waitresses that are white? Why aren’t we finding farm workers that are white? Why aren’t we finding security officers that are white? Why aren’t we finding the domestic workers that are white? What have we done? … Why is it only us … who are working … who are providing a cheap labour?

“We are not talking violence. We are not promoting violence. But I cannot guarantee the future. I am not a prophet. I’m talking now. We are not carrying any weapons. I will never kill white people. Why should I kill them? I will never [take] revenge for what they did. I’m asking politely for the land to be returned. And if they don’t return it, I cannot guarantee what will happen next.

“I love my blackness, that’s why I speak for blackness. And I’m not afraid to speak up for blackness. Because that’s who I am. I am not fighting against white people, but I’m not fighting for them.

“AfriForum is a boeremag. It’s a group of Afrikaners who still wish for apartheid. They will never see it. Afrikaner boys! Die poppe sal dans. The EFF is coming for you boys. Afrikaner boys! The ANC has made you to feel that this thing [province] is still the Orange Free State. This thing is not the Orange Free State. When we take over power, Afrikaner males, you will know your place.

“Just pray to your ancestors. Pray to Malan. Pray to Verwoerd. Pray and ask them for the EFF not to come to power. Because [when] we come into power: ‘Afrikaner male … this side!’ This is where you belong. They must know. These Afrikaner males must know [that] we are not scared of them … ideologically, politically, and otherwise! We can take each other toe to toe.

“We are not scared of Afrikaners. This is not your land. You must know your place. You are visitors here. And the long stay of visitors depends on the conduct.”

Zuma also recently called for land expropriation without compensation and for “black parties” to work together.