The African National Congress (ANC) youth league, are praising Julius Malema, saying it was wrong of President Jacob Zuma to fire him. It is all happening to woo him back to the ANC. The ANC have lost a significant amount of support in the recent local elections and have realized the only way they can have a two-thirds majority is with Malema, or so they may believe.
Malema who is now the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was fired in 2012 from the ANC youth league for disrespecting the party’s principals and sowing division in the ANC. Matome Chiloane, the ANC youth league Gauteng chairperson, said the party still had a spot for Malema. Apparently many others within the ANC hold the same sentiment. Malema is the man of the moment.
Malema, on the other hand, must be elated that he is accessible, needed and reached a pinnacle where he is in charge. Malema has to tools to hold the ANC to ransom and demand a string of actions before he considers rejoining the party. One of the requirements which Malema wants is the removal of Zuma. There are other high profile members of the ANC that Malema wants to be fired, and one is deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa. The demands will be massive, and the question is whether the ANC will bow down to King Malema.
ANCYL treasurer general Reggie Nkabinde said that the ANC would not sacrifice Zuma for a coalition deal with the EFF. “Through Zuma, we have increased our numbers. People love Zuma; they fill up stadiums to listen to him,” he said. Zuma is a hero to many in the ANC and even though the president has a string of corruption charges against, they fail to find fault with Zuma.
Of course, what Malema is forgetting is that his demands for land expropriation without compensation, or changing the constitution is a decision taken at national level. The elections were local and meant to conform to municipal service deliveries and good governance. What Malema should do is concentrate on running the wards the EFF won and prove to the country that he can be trusted. It is foolish to think that Malema can transform the corrupt ANC.
Trusting Malema will not be easy for many people around the country. Malema has made some revolutionary statements that can throw the country into division. Malema might believe he is in a strong position to make demands, but he will never get the ANC to agree to his absurd ideas. The ANC have far too much power and will not allow Malema to dictate the terms.
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