10:34 AM 2013/10/25 Every day the mandate of the newly formed, Economic Freedom Fighters, led by former disgraced ANCYL leader – now Commander-in-Chief – Julius Malema, convinces more of the economically disenfranchised youth, the majority of them young, black South Africans – that the only path to economic equality, in the form as promised by the leaders of the former liberation struggle, and following in the footsteps of other, less liberal African leaders, is to take it by force, first politically, then inevitably – by other means. It is these “other means” that we should all be worried about. Yes, the EFF right now is merely a media novelty, something concocted by a charismatic former youth leader of the ruling party. But most people, and indeed certainly not the media, who seem intent on providing Malema & his EFF platform ample media coverage, have not looked at the situation “sideways,” which is how Malema is moving forward. Malema may not be as educated as collective society deems worthy, but then again he does not need that kind of intellectual support, no – he utilises a very different human emotion. Greed. And that Western- style greed infused with the typical African opportunism, represents a unique challenge to what many consider orthodox democratic principles. It’s no secret that Malema heavily supports Mugabe & his indigenisation process in Zimbabwe. Just recently, Mugabe announced that his main priority during his 7th term as President, is to assume control of the remaining 1138 white/foreign owned businesses in the country, thereby completing the transference of all land and assets to the black population, with little regard for the remaining minorities in the country. South Africa’s situation is even more complicated and infinitely more dangerous. No-one seems to be taking Malema seriously. No-one except the voters that is. When Hitler tried to seize power from the German government in 1923, and failed, he consequently decided to enter government by other means. He did this by appealing to the masses of people within his country who were economically disenfranchised by another group of people, holding most of the wealth. Yes, the attempted revolution failed in 1923, but 10 years later, the Nazi party secured the Chancellorship with Hitler assuming the second most powerful position in Germany. The rest is history. The point is this: After 20 years of democracy, the masses in South Africa, the electorate, the poor, the people still living in shacks, the people still unemployed, the people struggling to stay alive in a wave of unprecedented crime – only see one thing: their former liberation leaders, who promised real change, “A Better Life for All,” are the only one’s experiencing that real change, are the only ones whose lives are now free, they don’t read the papers, follow your political debates or listen to your election promises anymore, because after 20 years, the only thing that changes for them – is the car you’re driving or how many more houses you have acquired. But Malema gives them hope. Albeit a hope based on western greed, it’s an emotion that trumps all common sense. In the face of economic starvation, a human being will do anything, follow anyone, no matter what the cost or the consequences. Those of us who think Malema is just a passing phase in South Africa’s young democracy, will do best to read up on how liberation struggles are started, South Africa’s form of struggle is by no means the template by which all are measured, but there is a starting point & we are witnessing it. What the EFF don’t gain politically, they will take by force, unilaterally, and with the support of the masses. Under such circumstances, will any ruling party go against the will of the people in order to keep power? 2014 Will indeed be the re-alignment of South African politics, as well as South African society, the more popular the EFF becomes with the masses, the more needless media attention it receives, the more polarised our society will become. The divide between the haves and the have not’s will never be as wide. Once again, we sit at the precipice…
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 08:36:48 +0000
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