WHEN Julius Malema was elected president of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League and his uncouth behaviour and aggressive rhetoric were starting to prove an embarrassment to the party, this newspaper suggested the ANC need not be overly concerned as given enough rope Malema would eventually hang himself.
And so it came to pass, although we did not expect President Jacob Zuma to be quite so generous in how much rope he played out before flinging the bitter end over a branch and tugging on it. By the time Mr Malema stopped twitching on the end of that rope, he had already inflicted much damage on the party and South Africa’s reputation as a serious democracy.
We mention that little bit of political history because Mr Malema has managed to make a fresh start as leader of a party moulded in his own image, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and it will be fascinating to see whether he has learned anything from the past.
One lesson he certainly did take away from his period in charge of the ANC Youth League is that a bit of rhetoric can get you a long way in South African politics, at least for a while. Mr Malema was highly successful in the beginning of his ANC career as a drawcard for radical township youths, who played a key role in Mr Zuma’s triumph over former president Thabo Mbeki at Polokwane in 2007.
Now he is using the same mixture of grass-roots engagement and fiery rhetoric to equally good effect in rallying young potential voters under the banner of the EFF. A number of opinion polls have indicated that he could attract up to 10% of the vote if the election were to be held tomorrow.
But it is not going to take place until May 7, and there are signs that Mr Malema is already running short of rope. His provisional sequestration in the Pretoria high court earlier in the week means it is unlikely that he would be able to occupy a seat in Parliament.
And he must still face serious criminal charges related to tender fraud later in the year, and a civil suit by the South African Revenue Service for outstanding taxes is likely. The EFF’s "commander in chief" can hold as many "war councils" as he likes and rant until his face is as red as his beret — South Africa has reached the end of its tether. And so, it seems, has he.
Julius Malema. Picture: SOWETAN
WHEN Julius Malema was elected president of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League and his uncouth behaviour and aggressive rhetoric were starting to prove an embarrassment to the party, this newspaper suggested the ANC need not be overly concerned as given enough rope Malema would eventually hang himself.
And so it came to pass, although we did not expect President Jacob Zuma to be quite so generous in how much rope he played out before flinging the bitter end over a branch and tugging on it. By the time Mr Malema stopped twitching on the end of that rope, he had already inflicted much damage on the party and South Africa’s reputation as a serious democracy.
We mention that little bit of political history because Mr Malema has managed to make a fresh start as leader of a party moulded in his own image, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and it will be fascinating to see whether he has learned anything from the past.
One lesson he certainly did take away from his period in charge of the ANC Youth League is that a bit of rhetoric can get you a long way in South African politics, at least for a while. Mr Malema was highly successful in the beginning of his ANC career as a drawcard for radical township youths, who played a key role in Mr Zuma’s triumph over former president Thabo Mbeki at Polokwane in 2007.
Now he is using the same mixture of grass-roots engagement and fiery rhetoric to equally good effect in rallying young potential voters under the banner of the EFF. A number of opinion polls have indicated that he could attract up to 10% of the vote if the election were to be held tomorrow.
But it is not going to take place until May 7, and there are signs that Mr Malema is already running short of rope. His provisional sequestration in the Pretoria high court earlier in the week means it is unlikely that he would be able to occupy a seat in Parliament.
And he must still face serious criminal charges related to tender fraud later in the year, and a civil suit by the South African Revenue Service for outstanding taxes is likely. The EFF’s "commander in chief" can hold as many "war councils" as he likes and rant until his face is as red as his beret — South Africa has reached the end of its tether. And so, it seems, has he.
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