Malema's comments not a call for youth to take up arms: Zuma

JOHANNESBURG - The comments made by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema on June 16, were not a call for the youth to take up arms, ANC president Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

Zuma said the ANCYL president had explained that his statements were not a call to the youth to engage in criminal or violent behaviour.

“It cannot be correct for anyone to incite any section of our society to violence or to commit murder, for any reason whatsoever. We are in agreement with the Youth League in this regard.

Zuma was speaking at Leadership magazine’s “Tomorrow’s Leaders” convention in Pretoria.

“The ANC Youth League has assured us that it has not wavered from the principles enshrined in the Constitution and as ANC members and leaders, and we will not do anything to jeopardise the gains we have made since 1994,” Zuma said.

He referred to the current situation in the ANC after media reported a crisis within the party.

“We do face challenges as the ANC, dating back many years. The Polokwane conference in 2007, will indicate the organisational problems relating to ill-discipline and general erosion of the value system amongst some members of the movement.

“At the conference we took resolutions to work for organisational renewal, and to eradicate ill discipline and thuggery where it rears its ugly head,” said Zuma.

He said the ANC would succeed in this regard as the majority of ANC members were disciplined and loyal cadres.

According to the ANC, the party had an unwavering support for the rule of law, as well as the independence of the judiciary and respect for the country’s criminal justice system.

“While we may have some outstanding issues with some elements within the criminal justice system, that does not mean we intend to resort to any unconstitutional means to fight back,” Zuma said.

-Sapa