Zuma slams ANC youth wing

President Jacob Zuma has publicly dressed down the youth wing of ruling African National Congress. His speech, which drew approval from trade union boss Zwelinzima Vavi, castigated regrettable behaviour by the youth league

Reuters

Pressing for nationalisation of South Africa’s mines, youth leader Julius Malema stayed stoney-faced through the tirade at the party’s key national general council.
He would not speak to reporters afterwards.

The political futures of both President Zuma and ANC youth league leader Julius Malema are at stake in the party’s national general council meeting in Durban this week.

Zuma has been assured his leadership is not immediately threatened, but he has to show more decisiveness if he wants a second term at the helm.

Malema has put it all on the line against his former political ally on the issue of nationalising the mines.

Both Zuma and his finance minister Pravin Gordhan have stressed it’s not ANC policy.
But Malema, who has replaced Nelson Mandela’s ex wife Winnie Maikezela Mandela as the lodestone for disaffected elements on the left of the ANC, has stuck his to his guns.

Madikizela Mandela commiserated with Malema after his tongue lashing from Zuma, who emphasised that the youth league is not autonomous and falls under the party’s authority
She put her arm around the youth leader and likened the party to a family, asserting that every parent is allowed to talk to their children.