AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE ON THE STAR NEWSPAPER TITLED "MALEMA NO LEADER - DA YOUTH, DATED 27 OCTOBER 2009
The attack by the Democratic Alliance Youth leadership on President Jacob Zuma's support for the ANC Youth League (ANC YL) President, Julius Malema, as a future ANC leader, is ill-informed and smacks on political opportunism (see here).
The statement by President Jacob Zuma, that Cde Julius Malema, is a leader in the making and that he is worthy of inheriting the ANC, is in keeping with the culture of leadership development within the ANC and is historically correct. We therefore support President Zuma's assertion.
Through the leadership of Julius Malema, the ANC YL has built a house for a destitute family in Seshego and they further built a church for the same community. They have helped orphanages and provided teaching and learning support materials to many schools around the country. They also have mobilised funding to the tune of R250.000, for our golden girl, the Female 800m gold medallist, Caster Semenya, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi - the Men's 800m gold medallist- and Kgotso Mokoena - the silver medallist in the men's long jump.
Anyone who leads an organisation that contributes towards the betterment of the people of our country deserves to be appraised. It is therefore not surprising that the President of the ANC praised Julius Malema and the ANC YL leadership on this wonderful effort that showed that the YL and Julius Malema cares.
When the present leadership of the ANC retires, Julius Malema, who has served the ANC from a young age of nine (9), to the President of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and now to the President of the ANC YL, like any other member of the ANC, who has been schooled in the politics of the organisation, can assume any leadership position within the ANC if elected. In his own right, Julius Malema can continue to volunteer his services to the ANC and to all South Africans.
The ANC YL has always been a leadership preparatory school for future ANC leaders. Since the formation of the ANC YL in 1944, headed by leaders such as Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, O. R. Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and A. P. Mda inter alia, the Youth League has contributed immensely in producing leaders of distinction who championed the programme of Action for the ANC.
Leaders such as Nelson Mandela are amongst a crop of leaders who grew within the structures and teachings of the ANC YL. In recent times, the Youth League has produced leaders in the likes of Peter Mokaba, Malusi Gigaba and Fikile Mbalula. They all assumed effective leadership of the ANC as members of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
We have no doubt in our minds that Cde Julius Malema can follow in the footsteps of such leaders.
The DA and the Christian Democratic Alliance should refrain from engaging in debates on issues they don't know and understand. They could have familiarised themselves first with the history of the ANC and saved themselves any political embarrassment.
Fundamental questions to could be asked; what are they doing in response to the needs of our people who are in dire need of shelter, water and decent living standards? They must learn from the ANC YL and refrain from unduly criticizing the leadership of the ANC.
The ANC, our Leagues and our Alliance partners remain committed to the attainment of a better life for all. We will continue to groom and prepare our members for future leadership role.
Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, October 27 2009
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