Malema inflames – all for power

Julius Malema is the master of “plausible deniability”. Having lit the fuse of anger among his “fighters”, after making public the phone number of journalist Karima Brown, he then condemned those EFF supporters who threatened Brown with the most vile misogynist violence imaginable.

In an interview, he said “I know words …”, even as he labelled Brown an operative of the ANC-controlled intelligence services. He was quick to point out that this was his “belief” and that he did not have proof – but equally made it clear he did not have to provide any.

That sums up Malema – he knows how to use words to inflame, to accuse, to wound.

Malema is always using words to achieve his political goal – which is nothing less than absolute power. At times, he has been painted by his critics (and some of his admirers) as a communist, a socialist, a fascist, or even an anarchist.

He is none of these things – at least in the sense of holding those principles close as any form of ideology.

He will use – and do, and say – anything which will gain him support, and votes. If that means stoking the fires of racial discord, so be it. If that means trumpeting the sort of Venezuelan-type solutions, which will bring this country to its knees economically by scaring away investors and destroying jobs, so be it. If that means promising Utopia through land expropriation with compensation, so be it.

People concerned about future stability in this country need to be worried – very worried – about Malema and the EFF.

Opinion polls show them increasing their support markedly in the May national elections. They won’t become the government, but they will continue to heavily influence where we go as a country.

And that direction doesn’t look promising.