A Letter to Malema

NB: This article was first published in 2011. I feel its still relevant today. Do not worry, I bring you good news. In the light of the recent political activity particularly concerning you Mr President and your views around state resources, general political development within the ANCYL and the ANC, international diplomacy and student politics, I am prompted at this point to share a few things with you. Ndikurhabulise mfo’omdala. It is important to note you have taken a bold stand by unapologetically criticizing the hand that feeds you-‘ANC led liberation movement’-, positively I could even say. It is strictly healthy for politics to be a space where such vigorous but logical engagement should take place, not only institutionally but also informally where we socialise and live. The rhetoric here would be to stereotypically point out the fact that you also have shown strong characteristics of a new breed of racial supremist and capitalist, a black one. As you state in your opinion feature article, ‘Our people are facing extinction’ in the Sunday Times 23 October 2011, “Our people are dying due to poverty and starvation because we have not changed the economic ownership pattern that is informed by apartheid. Such dire existence happens alongside massive wealth and the capacity to eradicate poverty, starvation, unemployment and crisis levels of inequality in SA”. The irony here is that you have just been exposed as a multimillionaire with various directorships in companies of sorts. Rumours of you financing the construction of a mansion in Gauteng also are characteristics of the same nature of white supremist that continue to monopolise riches of our land and have successfully transferred ownership to their third generation offspring. Other affiliates of the so-called ANC led liberation movement seem to be accustomed to this trend. With your connections and financial status you have “capabilities” and “capacities” to do something about the current situation. Maybe this march or mobilisation effort is your contribution to the cause of the poor. Or maybe you also want to transfer your ownership of “resources accumulated” to your offspring? But I am not about rhetoric. Do not worry, I bring you good news. I will allude to your quote of Cabrals words when he says, “Claim no easy victories”. As you embark on your revolutionary actions , understand that one of the major backbones that the supremist and racist capitalist rely on in maintaining apartheid intended situation in this land, is the collaboration between the elitist ANC-led liberation movement and so called liberals and philanthropist that led to the Kliptown draft of the Freedom Charter. This charter paved the way for what you call racialised problems. Its principle of multiracialism was a harbinger for eventual ‘separate development ‘laws enforced by the racist apartheid regime, protecting stolen and enforced white interests forever. Establishment of underdeveloped homelands, inhumane migrant labour systems, Herrenvolk bantu education system all were symptoms of a country hit by collaboration. So before you rally masses for confrontational cause, first make sure that there are no ‘masks’ in your ‘difficulties’ and ‘mistakes’. Your credibility as a true comrade of the people , and that of the ANC and all other progressive political and trade union bodies that have been at the helm of the post-apartheid government regime for that matter, is highly under question as you all show signs and characteristics of being petty bourgeoisie class that will lead us to eMpelazwe. Sibusiso Mnyanda 25 October 2011