"As a government, the ANC will create a legal framework that will assist, rather than impede, the awesome task of reconstruction and development of our battered society. "...... This is the challenge that faces all South Africans today, and it is one to which I am certain we will all rise." - Nelson Mandela in May 1994.
By Marimuthu Subramoney
(aka Subry Govender)
Seventeen years ago on May 9 1994 when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the new democratic president of the country, he not only committed his new government to creating peace and reconciliation, but he also made it abundantly clear that new policies would be introduced to bring about bring about socio-economic changes for the majority.
Among other things, he said: "As a government, the ANC will create a legal framework that will assist, rather than impede, the awesome task of reconstruction and development of our battered society.
"...... This is the challenge that faces all South Africans today, and it is one to which I am certain we will all rise."
Since then Mandela has repeatedly, until his retirement five years later, stated that the ANC Government and its leaders and members will first and foremost work to improve the quality of life of the masses - the poor, marginalised and the disadvantaged.
One of the measures the ruling ANC introduced was called BEE or Black Economic Empowerment. This measure gave preference to the majority black people in so far as government contracts at the national, provincial and local government was concerned.
As a result over the past decade or so, many thousands have empowered themselves economically but sadly many of the people who capitalised and became beneficiaries of BEE belong to the political elite, their families, friends and hangers-on.
It's in this context that the political leader, Julius Malema, who claims he's working to uplift the poor and the disadvantaged, currently finds himself.
Cutting out all the frills, Malema, who is also the president of the ANC Youth League and who has aspirations of one day occupying the president's seat, is alleged to be using his political clout to amass tens of millions of unbegotten wealth as exposed by the City Press and other newspapers at the weekend.
The devastating reports about his lavish life were published despite his attempts to block the publication of the reports through an application to the Guateng High Court.
It's alleged he has used his political position to obtain government contracts for his friends and business associates and inturn he has been paid huge amounts, which he has channelled into his trust account, Ratanang Family Trust, of which he is the sole trustee.
This, many role players is nothing but CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION AND CORRUPTION.
Malema it seems cannot account for his millions as, in his own words, he earns "above R20 000" a month from the ANC.
Questions have already been asked how could he afford a R3,6-million house in Sandown which he has now broken down to build a R16-million mansion; a R1-million house in Polokwane; and a farm in Limpopo, for which he has paid R800 000 in cash.
He also drives around in luxury cars, some of them valued at more than R1-million; sports watches that are worth more than R250 000; wears designer clothes valued at tens of thousands of rand; eats at super luxury restaurants and drinks the most expensive wines.
Malema, in his usual boorish attitude, has tried to rubbish questions about his wealth by adopting a defensive attitude. He told journalists last week: "It's none of your business... you must mind your own business."
Malema, who wants to nationalise mines and confiscate land from whites, further astonished South Africans when he said: "One of the things I have learnt in my short life in politics is the ability to live in the conditions of capitalism while fighting it and defeating it."
The tragedy of the Malema drama is that he's not the only political leader to use his position and staus to further his financial interests. It's reported that scores, if not hundreds, of political leaders at all levels in almost every corner of the country have used and are continuing to use their positions to rake in millions in cash or are funnelling into bank accounts of families, extended family members and friends.
In this mad rush to gain from capitalism while at the same time "fighting it and defeating it", the millions of the poor and the ordinary people, that Malema claims on whose behalf he has entered politics, continue to wallow in increasing poverty, unemployment and joblessness.
The Malemas have not only tarnished the heritage of Nelson Mandela and the Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus, Govan Mbekis, Monty Naickers and Yusuf Dadoos but have also shredded and ripped apart their legacy.
For this travesty the Malemas must be called to account and pay. - Subry Govender, Chief Editor
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