YCLSA Disgusted by Malema's Racism and Insults

The Young Communist League of SA (uFasimba) is disgusted with the insults and racist labels from Julius Malema under the guise of criticism of the Deputy General of the SACP, Jeremy Cronin (see article). The YCL believes that Malema has sunk to the lowest ebb of being racist and hurling insults, instead of engaging with profound debates that Cde. Cronin was raising.

We view the labelling of Cde. Cronin as a "white messiah" not only as racist, but as an insult to the principle and ideology of the National Liberation Movement, that of non-racism. We are confident that the majority of members of the ANC Youth League do not share these racist and insulting labels. We also view the racist and insulting labels as a lost opportunity for Malema to engage with the all important debate on "nationalisation". We must emphasise that the "call for nationalisation" is not the preserve of Malema, and that invitation to debate should not be a trap to lure people into a racist, insulting and senseless room.

Why invoke Nelson Mandela to justify Racist and Insulting Labels

We note that Malema substitute a sensible debate for insults and racist labels, and bravery for disrespect; but we believe that we can disagree on any issue and still maintain respect as comrades. What is worse is that Malema invokes the names of respectable leaders of the ANC, including Nelson Mandela, to justify this nonsensical insults and racist remarks.

The fact that Mandela was not a communist at the time and used to disrupt Communist Party meetings does not give Malema permission to act in such backward fashion. Mandela has recorded these auto-biographical facts so that we learn from it, and not repeat it like headless chickens with the hope that we (including Malema) will one day be like Mandela. If we do that, it means that we should follow every little act and statement that Mandela made like parrots, even when the conditions do not allow. We now know more about the need for the Alliance and the relationship between the SACP and the ANC than Mandela did, and we should follow his latter day example of respectfully engaging with Alliance leaders.

Alliance Protocol

We are also disappointed that the call from the ANC President and the Alliance Summit for a "cease of fire" in trading insults is being undermined by Malema.

We will in the coming week ask for a meeting with the leadership of the ANC Youth League to discuss this and other matters.

Statement issued by Gugu Ndima, Young Communist League national spokesperson November 21 2009

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