“One day a millionaire will buy the whole of Grahamstown and fence it off as private land.”
“One day a millionaire will buy the whole of Grahamstown and fence it off as private land.”
With remarks such as this, Economic Freedom Fighters' Commander in Chief Julius Malema caused a stir inside and outside the Barratt lecture theatre at Rhodes University on Thursday 30 April.
Among other remarks, the fiery orator called ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa a sellout, slammed SA’s failure to ban foreign land ownership and was fulsome in his praise for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Scores queued outside the packed venue yesterday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the charismatic leader.
Despite threats earlier in the week carried on A4 posters and pamphlets that the EFF would be prevented from entering the campus, the event went ahead without incident.
Malema told the packed hall that the EFF gets criticised for not wanting foreigners to own land – despite the fact that this is standard practice in some European countries.
"When we say foreigners must not own the land, they make noise about it. But no foreigner owns land in Britain.
“They [ANC government] want to project themselves as the most democratic and liberal," he said.
Malema went on to criticise the willing buyer willing seller policy saying it means the country is available to the highest bidder.
"One day a millionaire will buy the whole of Grahamstown and then fence it because its private land.
“Before you know it, they will introduce dompasses in the name of private-owned land.
“You cannot have the land of your country owned by private individuals: it threatens the independence of the country," he said.
The outspoken leader said it was important for the state to be the custodians of the land.
"Its important if you are patriotic to say the custodian of the land must be the state. Any individual who wants to use the land must apply to the state and show cause."
Malema said Zimbambwe was better than South Africa.
"Some [people]they are like ‘no, no, no, this Malema guy is going to make us look like Zimbabwe – we don't want that!,’ he said.
“Are you aware that Zimbabweans are better than us, because they own their own land."
He said Zimbabwe would overcome its problems and be the best country on the continent.
"They might have temporary challenges because capital is not happy that black people are owning the land. Zimbabwe will come of age and they will be the only country to own their land," Malema said.
The EFF leader cautioned, however, against reckless and illegal means of regaining land.
"When I say to you Zimbabwe is the best and it will come of age, we must never follow the Zimbabwe lessons of beating people up, or cutting white people's hands because we want the land.
“We must find the best mechanisms.
“All I'm saying is that the courage of Zimbabweans should serve as an inspiration."
Throughout his address, Malema spoke to cheers from the capacity crowd consisting mostly of students, as he raised numerous tasks which he claims the ANC government has failed to carry out due to a lack of courage.
We love Robert Mugabe because he is the only man who can stand up to the Europeans and tell them where to get off. Everyone else is scared of them," he said.
Malema said the South African government had failed to support local industries.
"There is too much talent here, but there is no support from government,” he said. “Where is the South African state to sponsor and support our own car [manufacturingindustry]?
“There are so many things we can do. The problem is that our leaders are sitting on top of their brains."
Malema took a swipe at a number of current and former ANC leaders, including former president Thabo Mbeki, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and President Jacob Zuma.
"We thought Mbeki was going to do something, but he spent most of his time theorising,” Malema said. “Yes theory is good – but you cannot eat theory.
“It must go with practice, but under this one here [Zuma], there isn't even theory.
“My president – he can't think,” Malema said. “The ANC used to be a reservoir of think tanks.
“Today if you want people who are suffering from the mind of a rat go to the ANC. They can't think.”
Malema then directed most of his criticism at Ramaphosa, saying, "There is nothing smart about Ramaphosa. There is nothing wow about Ramaphosa. This moderate gentleman just makes billions like that without any explanation.
"If you were to ask Cyril what are you producing, he doesn't produce anything – so what makes him smart?
"The only thing they buy from him is his blackness: he is selling to them his blackness," Malema said.
"To say I'm black and therefore I can be BEE and therefore I can become economic security guard.
“When your investments are under threat, I will call the state to come and protect your investments."
Malema accused Ramaphosa of playing such a role in the Marikana incidents.
"That is what he did in Marikana. That is the role of black politicians in business. When the wealth of white people is threatened, they call the state to come and protect the interest of white capital.
“So you are an economic security guard, you are not entrepreneur. There is nothing smart about him."
He urged students to play their part.
"We want ideas. You students, you must celebrate ideas, you must celebrate innovation, you must celebrate new thinking.
That's why you are here you are not here: just to receive junk.
“You must use that junk to [produce]new ideas, because that junk you receive here can mess you up," he said.
Malema accused students of committing class suicide.
"Most of the graduates here, bright students graduates, who call themselves middle class today, they have committed class suicide.
“They think they are better. They look down on us the poor masses of our people.
“You know why? “They taught them at school that to have a bond and a car which is owned by the bank and it means [you have made it].
Malema was scathing about the new middle class.
"Our people did not die for you to sit in a pool of debt. We have produced new people to join those who are swimming in a pool of debt. I said 60 percent of the food we eat is from outside.
“A country favoured by weather conditions and beautiful land – we still eat imported food.
“Why? Because our government has failed to protect local industries. They have opened the flood gates for imports to come into this country," Malema said.
EFF national spokesman, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, closed the address by saying that hopefully when the EFF returns, the university will bear a new name.
