The Soapbox | Where South Africans Speak Out

BY HLANGANANI  S. GUMBI

World Movement for Democracy is an international network of organizations who share the common goal of promoting democracy. Its missions are to strengthen democracy where it is weak, reform and invigorate democracy even where it is longstanding, and bolster pro-democracy groups in countries that have not yet entered into a process of democratic transition.

The World Movement for Democracy Assembly was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, during 11 – 14 April 2010. This assembly brought together over 600 democracy and human rights activist, NGO leaders, politicians, businessmen, academics, and other friends of democracy and human rights. I was fortunate enough to be invited to this assembly and share experiences with people from all different backgrounds.

The worst part of the trip was the sad and constant reminders about Julius Malema, and the threat he poses to our democracy. A prominent Zimbabwean student leader who has been pushing for democratic reform in Zimbabwe even implicitly mentioned Julius Malema in his speech. He spoke about how Julius Malema endorses Zanu-PF’s dictatorial rule of Zimbabwe, and the human rights abuses with which it comes. He mentioned how he has been sucked into the demagoguery of revolutionary talk that elders promote. At the end of it all, Julius Malema was the centrepiece of a negative speech delivered to the world where our African youth brothers warned us to guard against those who threaten our democracy.

In the same assembly, I had the pleasure of interacting with people from over 110 different countries. Sadly so, the conversations where international leaders have shown concern for Julius Malema are the ones that stick out. In one conversation, an American activist expresses his alarm about Malema’s behaviour and the direction in which the country is heading with him in a seat of power. Another European wondered how investment will continue flow to South Africa with his current behaviour, and he described the nationalisation of the mines as the beginning of the end for South Africa.

Julius Malema is a powerful man, and some even say more powerful than the president of the republic himself. Due to the views which he portrays, and the influence he holds, Julius Malema is a direct threat to our democracy. Julius opposes a free media, and wants to personally decide what appropriate and fair coverage is. Malema by admission supports a militant land expropriation method which disregards human rights, and threatens property rights in its entirety. Malema fuels racial tensions and easily plays on the emotional connection South Africans have to the past in order to provide a smokescreen for his ill-conceived agenda. He is an opportunist that gets rich off the money from the taxpayer, and hence he contributes to a cycle of growing poverty in South Africa.

The Democratic Alliance must continue to defend and promote the constitution. It is the only thing that can stop people such as Julius Malema, and protect South Africans from becoming a failed state because of such leaders. We must always protect and guard against those who threaten our democracy.

Hlanganani Gumbi is provincial youth chairperson of the Eastern Cape DA.