WE ARE DISGUSTED BY ATTEMPTS OF THE STATE TO LINK PRESIDENT JULIUS MALEMA TO INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE IN MARIKANA.

09 September 2012

We are disgusted by attempts of the State Security apparatuses, particularly the badly run, inefficient, and useless national intelligence to link President Julius Malema to the the events before the South African police murdered 34 mineworkers in a pre-planned massacre, which had approval of senior authorities.

It has come to our attention through newspaper reports and from within the divided NIA that certain national Ministers were hellbent on linking President Julius Malema to the events before the massacre, and resorted to torturing and abuse of mineworkers who were arrested by the South African government after surviving the massacre (see City Press report).

Now attempts by the State, and their rented dogs like Buti Manamela are barking all over the media spreading conspiracies and rumours that our involvement in the Marikana events was bought and intended to destabilize the South African government. The fact of the matter is that under Jacob Zuma, the ANC and South Africa as a whole has lost legitimacy amongst the people not only in South Africa, but the world over.

Our involvement in Marikana and many other crisis ridden Mines and areas is due to the fact that we represent hope amongst the people and speak to the solutions that should be found in South Africa in relation the ownership of South Africa's natural resources, in particular Mines. Mineworkers are not fools and they know who can best represent their interests, so attempts to criminalize those who voice workers interests will forever fail.

The murderous apartheid regime operated exactly the same way the so called democratic government under Jacob Zuma is operating. In response to people's revolts, the apartheid regime massacred our people and the regime under Zuma is doing the same.

Under apartheid, genuine leaders were criminalized and arrested for voicing people's interests and aspirations, and with the actions of the NIA now, attempts and plans to arrest those who represent workers are always in place. Under apartheid, those who were arrested were tortured in an attempt to implicate leaders, and that is exactly what is happening today.

One thing we would want to assure the murderous regime, the police and their dogs is that we will never stop associating with struggles of the exploited and oppressed people of South Africa. We will be everywhere mineworkers protest for better wages and living conditions and we will lead struggles for better living conditions. No surrender! No retreat! ASIJIKI!

Statement issued by Friends of the Youth League, September 9 2012

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