ANC has created its own monster

GOVERNMENT’S reaction to claims that Julius Malema plans to destabilise South Africa by manipulating an uprising within certain key industries is frustrating.

Professionalism escaped presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj when he was asked to comment on the claim that Malema was strategically rousing masses within the military, intelligence agencies, police, metro police, universities and mines.

Apparently incapable of seeing past his personal vendetta with the media, Maharaj kept his response petty and vindictive.

“We won’t legitimise stories . . . by getting me or the presidency to comment. You [journalists] must pay the price and take responsibility for writing stories saying that South Africa is a banana republic because you might believe it.”

It seems Maharaj belongs to that growing clique of politicians who believe journalists should not report on issues that expose government’s shortcomings.

This form of selective democracy does no one – least of all the ruling party – any favours.

Malema is the ANC’s very own “Frankenstein’s monster” – a creation that may well bring about the party’s downfall.

He was unwittingly given fertile ground to grow through government’s apathy towards addressing the long-standing grievances of certain industries. But when his relationship with the ANC soured, Malema found a niche in the legions of people living on the poverty line who had become angry at a government they felt did not have their welfare at heart.

Malema would not have any notable support base if government had addressed these grievances timeously.

Many South Africans believe Malema is exploiting these disempowered workers to further his own political ambitions.

But for those who have lived so long with so little, and to whom promises have so often been made and then broken – he is their last hope. Government ignores this at their own peril.