YCLSA rejects suggestion that the Left is plotting against Julius Malema
As the Young Communist League of South Africa (uFasimba) we are angered by cheap allegations that there is a so-called left agenda to rubbish the name of Julius Malema and that of the ANC Youth League because the organisation holds a different view on ANC leadership in 2012 and on nationalization (see report).
Neither the YCL nor the SACP have the capacity to gather intelligence information and use such information against our own comrades, and equally, do not have access to intelligence information for purposes of rubbishing anybody. In fact, it is comrade Julius who confirmed this morning on SAFM that he has access to intelligence information. We are also not interested in tarnishing the name of anybody, especially working with the media or mining bosses, for purposes of political gain and have better things to do than dwell on gossip and information peddling. We fought against this in the past, and will continue to do so.
Suggestions that SACP General Secretary should undergo a lifestyle audit because of unfounded, baseless and discredited accusations made by Willie Madisha are laughable and can only serve to divert attention from the real issues. We also caution against the resurrection of these allegations in order to deflect attention as the only thing it achieves is to play into COPE's agenda.
For the record, the General Secretary of the SACP has voluntarily undergone a lifestyle audit that cleared him of any wrong doing, and the SAPS have closed the case because there was no evidence. Unfounded, fictitious and blanket accusations that SACP or YCL leaders or their wives or their children are involved in business can never be used to substantiate the guilt or innocence of anybody. If anybody has information that leaders of the SACP or YCL are involved in business, they should come forward with that information to the YCL so that we rid ourselves of such leaders.
We affirm our support for a lifestyle audit. We believe that public representatives and officials should be held accountable if their lifestyles do not comply with their declared income. We agree that this should not be used for settling political scores. We agree that it should be done by SARS and other state institutions. We should fight corruption, and make an example with the most senior of our government leadership; we will never retreat in this fight against corruption.
We support any initiative that looks into the lifestyle of political activists and trade union leaders if SARS or any institution mandated by the law believes that there may be irregularities. We also call on political and trade-union leaders to promote revolutionary morality and refrain from the "conspicuous display of wealth"; halt the promotion of a culture of consumerism, crass materialism and live the way they want our society to be. We are agents of change as Alliance and youth leaders, and therefore, should lead by example.
Any suggestion that there are some "yellow communists" who are rubbishing Julius Malema is equal to shouting fire in a packed cinema, and can only be a divisive strategy meant to discredit ANC and SACP leaders, and a weak defense on behalf of Malema. We call on those who continue to rubbish the left, privately or publicly or through official platforms of the ANC Youth League (as was done by the Gauteng Provincial Secretary of the ANC Youth League), to give proof of these or stop spreading this "Rooi-Gevaar" nonsense. It is becoming a tired and sickening defense, and we are no longer and will never be intimidated by this howling into silence.
Members of the ANC and ANC Youth League will decide the leadership of these structures at an appropriate time, and we will respect that. We will never interfere with this process. But when chickens come home to roost, the left should not be blamed as a measure of convenience and expedience. Accusing others in your own defense does not mean you are innocent.
Statement issued by Cde. Buti Manamela on behalf of the Young Communist League of South Africa, February 23 2010
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