By Jaime Ortega.
While Nelson Mandela remains in the hospitals bed with his “critical but stable” diagnosis, already another political party threatens to upend his legacy of coexistence.
Yesterday, before the crowd of the media, the radical youth leader Julius Malema, already expelled from the ANC and charged for several charges of corruption, launched his campaign called the Economic Freedom Fighters.
A recent survey said that nearly 25% of young South Africans would be willing to vote for them.
Malema with its characteristic red beret similar to Hugo Chavez’s who has declared to be fervent supporter of, explained that his political platform will be on the 26 and 27 of July a conference in Soweto to launch his first manifesto and ideology.
Yesterday, however, he moved some of their well-known proposals that earned him expulsion from the ANC.
The main proposal was “the nationalization of mines and farms without compensation.” This means the expulsion of most of the South African white population in a process similar to what happened in Zimbabwe, a country where the leader gives the example: “Zimbabwe was willing to suffer for the revolution,” he said.
On the nationalization of businesses, Malema, has always defended that it is a historical debt. “They stole the land and mines and now must return.” “You’re going to have to share,” he said yesterday. However, the young “liberator” explained ” all whites are invited to participate in the EFF if they embrace these principles.”
Then Malema wanted to set together other parties on the new African political landscape. “What we propose is not proposed by anyone,” he said to start an argument in proposing a solution to corruption. “No one found guilty of corruption will beret,” he explained, referring to his clothing guerrilla. A surprising statement from a politician in August now faces several charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering worth 400,000 euros in the Court of Polokwane. You can go to jail.
Platform leftist, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist
Malema, flanked by most of the previous executive boards of the ANC Youth League, as the platform defined as “leftist, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist” and returned to lash out against President Jacob Zuma and his old party. “Our complaints were first to leave the ANC, not before. We can steal everything, but not the soul of the ideology. Fight from jail even if necessary,” he said.
The EFF is a platform that has the support of some South African millionaires and controversial characters like Kenny Kunene, known as the king of sushi. A flamboyant character who in 2011 starred with Malema a scandal at the opening of one of the exclusive clubs in Cape Town. Then the young Communist friend of the lower South-African classes was photographed eating sushi on top the bodies of white models in luxurious surroundings. Then, to the women’s league of the ANC called the whole scene and “absurd spectacle”.
Malema also has the support of Mandela’s former wife, Winnie, who he described as his “son” and has and has been sponsored as a political representative.
Finally, it has been speculated that behind Malema, someone powerful or strong had interests in South African politics. While in the gossip they talked about the Chinese to blame due to other regional interest in Eastern Africa, there is now a rumor that puts the ‘Tokyo Sexwale” as his benefactor. Wales are one of the great fortunes in the South African historical struggle against apartheid and a close friend of Nelson Mandela. This week Zuma has been dismissed as the minister of human settlements. In any case, none of the protagonists has confirmed what until now is just sounds like a rumor.
