JOINT STATEMENT BY BUTI MANAMELA AND JULIUS MALEMA ON UNISA VICE-CHANCELLOR BARNEY PITYANA

The YCLSA and the ANC Youth League dismisses with the contempt it deserves the allegation by Prof. Barney Pityana on SAFM After 8 Debate that the National Secretary, Buti Manamela, and the President, Julius Malema met in Luthuli House to plot the unseat him.

This is equal to peddling of information which is then presented as genuine intelligence reminiscent of the Special Browse "Mole Report" on the part of Prof. Pityana. It is disgusting that a person who regards himself as an intellectual would, as a sign of desperation, receive and present lies as truth to the public on broad day light.

We call on Pityana to present evidence of his allegation of such a meeting. The leadership of the ANC Youth League and the YCL has other important things to do, including campaigning for an overwhelming ANC victory, than to discuss a plot to unseat Prof. Pityana.

It will only be failure by Prof. Pityana to rebut the allegations against him and remedy the situation on campus that will lead to his removal. Prof. Pityana should stop wandering in the fast lane of paranoia and begin answering his case.

We further call on the University Council to suspend Prof. Pityana with immediate effect and begin a forensic investigation of the rampant maladministration and corruption that has been going on under his nose, together with what we believe is sheer incompetence on his part. We are prepared to accept whatever the outcomes from these investigations, however, we believe that it will vindicate us.

We reiterate respect for the "right to freedom of association" and are in no way involved in a witch-hunt against Prof. Pityana. We believe that he is free to participate in whatever political party he wishes to, only that it should not be to the detriment of the integrity of the institution and will not result in intolerance on his part (a tendency that has come started showing itself based on his unilateral suspension of the SRC and all its activities).

Statement issued by the Young Communist League National Secretary Buti Manamela and the ANC Youth League President Julius Malema, March 5 2009

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