RESPONSE OF THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION TO COMMENTS BY MR MALEMA REGARDING FORMER PRESIDENT FW DE KLERK

The FW de Klerk Foundation has taken note of Mr Malema's remarks regarding former President De Klerk. They are so silly that they hardly merit comment. However, Malema's bombastic outbursts on a wide range of other topics from nationalisation to Botswana - and the inexplicable failure of the ANC leadership to call him to account - cannot be ignored.

Malema and the ANCYL have become a serious embarrassment to South Africa. They are beginning to undermine international confidence in our economy; they are damaging relations with one of the most progressive and democratic states in Africa; and they are eroding the inter-community reconciliation that President Mandela worked so hard to promote.   

The behaviour of Malema and his colleagues must presumably also be an acute embarrassment to many principled and disciplined members of the ANC. They must be painfully aware that Malema's self-aggrandisement, his irresponsible outbursts and his undisguised lack of respect for the ANC leadership have no place in the traditions that the ANC has developed over the past 100 years.

Statement issued by the FW de Klerk Foundation, August 5 2011

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