Hi 19C° Low 4C° | 
The Social
6 hours, 15 minutes ago
Pendock Uncorked
8 hours, 50 minutes ago
Minor Matters
17 hours, 7 minutes ago
The Frock Report
1 day, 4 hours agoView all Times LIVE Blogs
ANC CONDEMNS UNTOWARD BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS JOURNALISTS
The ANC strongly condemns the behaviour of ANC Youth League President, cde Julius Malema, towards a BBC TV journalist, John Fisher, at yesterday (April, 07, 2010) ANC Youth League press briefing. The aggressive and insultive behaviour to the said journalist that culminated with Mr Fisher walking out of the Youth League press briefing cannot be condoned at all.
The unfortunate outburst by cde Julius Malema did not only reflect negatively on him, but also reflected negatively on the ANC YL, the entire ANC family, our Alliance partners as well as South Africa in the eyes of the international community.
The behaviour in question, by the ANC YL president is not in keeping with the culture and traditions as well as conduct of a cadre and leader of the ANC. No amount of alleged provocation that was directed to cde Julius Malema could justify such a response. We are of a firm view that this matter could have been handled differently. The leadership abilities and qualities of the position that cde Julius Malema holds, should have prepared him to deal with the issue in a manner that demonstrated leadership.
On the same note, we condemn whatever provocation that came from the side of the journalist directed to the Youth League President as it might have been seen as an attempt to undermine and mock the leadership of the ANC YL.
The ANC would also like all South Africans to condemn the behaviour of the AWB General Secretary, Mr Andre’ Visagie, when he threatened a political commentator at the eTV broadcasting studios. This action by Mr Visagie equally does not augur well for the freedom of expression, as enshrined in our constitution. What is even more glaring on this matter is that Mr Visagie threatened a woman political commentator with the intention to harm during a live TV broadcast.
The ANC would also like to strongly disagree and distance itself from utterances by the ANC YL at their press conference yesterday that they will support President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF to win the forthcoming general elections in Zimbabwe. The ANC stance on the Zimbabwe issue is that we fully support the mediation process that is currently underway, which is led and facilitated by President Jacob Zuma. The ANC together with its government would like to see all political parties in Zimbabwe (the two MDC’s and Zanu PF) implementing the spirit and the letter of the Global Political Agreement. It is therefore our view that the ANC YL’s expression of support for one party in Zimbabwe goes against our country’s and President Zuma’s mediation efforts in that country.
The ANC will immediately arrange a meeting with the ANC YL to discuss matters raised in their press conference yesterday. These matters will include inter-alia, the matter raised in this press statement as well as matters relating to land, also matters relating to a call made by the ANC Officials for all ANC members and structures should restrain themselves in the singing of any struggle song that might be interpreted as contributing to racial polarisation. In this envisaged urgent meeting, the ANC will also sharply raise with the ANC YL their utterances in matters relating to the death of Mr Eugene Terre’Blanche.
Issued by:
Jackson Mthembu
ANC National spokesperson
Related posts:
I’m not hopeful that anything will come from the ANC meeting Julius. He has been supposedly hauled over the coals before and it doesn’t seem to make a difference to his behaviour.
The ANC’s excuse is typically that he’s “still learning the ways of leadership”.
He is Royal Game and therefore untouchable. The only one that can put an end to this farce is Jacob Zuma (royal game is after all reserved for the king) – he has to be fired.
But, I think the ANC will keep Julius sweet at least up until the next elections because it is fearful of losing some of that youth vote.
On the same note, we condemn whatever provocation that came from the side of the journalist directed to the Youth League President as it might have been seen as an attempt to undermine and mock the leadership of the ANC YL.
it seems to me that Julius Malema is doing all the undermining, and making a mockery of the leadership, by himself.
and lashing out at the AWB in the same statement sounds a little like school boys blaming each other.
having said that, i applaud this statement. it is long overdue.
While i agree with most of this… I think that something should be said about the female journalist.. she was extremely rude, and I feel she attempted to provoke Mr Visagie.. granted he should have handled it better.. but she was being highly unprofessional with her interruptions of her own opinion.. definitely not objective at all
Pretty sure the journalist’s name is JONAH Fisher, and not JOHN Fisher as stated in this OFFICIAL statement.
At least know who you’re supporting here if you’re gonna go through the effort of making an offical statement.
Nice to see some sanity coming through at last. But it may be too little too late. The ANC should have taken control of Malema long ago if he’s not speaking for the party.
There was no provocation from the journalist. Only a blunt question was asked which showed Malema up for a hypocrite and a fool. Malema cannot deal with his own idiocy so he takes it out on the token white in his midst.
So what are the ANC going to do about this boy, besides telling the country that he is out of line. Will they tell him he is out of line and put a sock in his mouth.
There is such a vacuum of leadership among the ANC leading membership, that any little punkass bully can worm his way into leadership of the ANC. As happened between ANC supporters of Mbeki who were purged, the current spineless in the ANC are fearful of getting on the wrong side of Malema, in case he gets voted into top position by virtue of his growing status and (popularity) among a section of ANC voters.
Vote any opposition party at the next elections and if you cannot bring yourself to do this, then dont vote if you want to avoid a Mugabe government one day.
“On the same note, we condemn whatever provocation that came from the side of the journalist directed to the Youth League President as it might have been seen as an attempt to undermine and mock the leadership of the ANC YL.”
The ‘provocation’ in this context should not be condemned as it is based on a factual truth and used to highlight the absurdity of Malema’s argument, which is what a journalist has a right – and a duty – to do. Of course the ANC cannot admit that, but they are out of line to insinuate that the journalist was at fault in any way.
OH Please!!!!
This is just to try and calm the international community before the World Cup so that fans come to our crime and corruption ridden country.
After the World Cup it will be a completely different story, JM will be allowed to kick out and swear and any international journo.
The statement by ANC is laughable!
Why even bother to tap him lightly on the knuckles when in the very next sentence Malema’s actions are justified by saying the journalist was “provocative” when all he did was do his job asking a simple question. And does the ANC truly believe every time a journo asks a question they dont like, his real intention is to undermine blacks? If that is true, the weight of that chip on the ANC’s collective shoulder must be immense. And why try to downplay Malema’s buffoonry by contrasting it with the behaviour of the AWB’s Visagie. These are two seperate, yet equally despicable incidents. But by the ANC’s own reasoning then, was not Visagie also “provoked”?
“On the same note, we condemn whatever provocation that came from the side of the journalist directed to the Youth League President as it might have been seen as an attempt to undermine and mock the leadership of the ANC YL.”
I ask with tears in my eyes what the BBC journo did to provoke? He asked fair questions that pointed out the hypocrisy in Julius’ statements about the MDC people running an out-of-country office…didn’t the ANC also use offices in other countries during their struggle?
Before the press conference started, it was made clear that the journalists present would get an opportunity to ask questions. The BBC journalist ignored this and interjected with his comment – an ill-mannered gesture to say the least. Though no supporter of Julius Malema myself, and certainly not of is actions during this distasteful incident, I can understand why the journalist was told to leave.
Julius needs to apologize to the journalist and to the SA public!! After that he must pay a fine, R1 million rand, due to the effects on our economy caused by his outburst. He must then also immediately resign. That’s what MUST be done but in this country – what are the changes?
what I want to know is :why is his opinion soooo important? and why the press don’t boikot him and walk out after his outburst (poor leadership)? Why is he visiting zim and making as if he is president?
why should we even have to hear what an anc youth league president has to say? it is not the south african youth league!!!!
Malema is an arrogant & malignant virus – the likes of whom should never be allowed to rear their toxic heads in public life. Away with him ANC!!
Here’s one from left field – I believe the journalists let themselves down. I believe they allowed themselves to get screwed in Julius Malema Porn Movie that was of their own making.
Journalists spread their legs and bent over for Julius Malema at press conference in Luthuli House, Johannesburg, 8 April 2010.
I suppose we should have seen it coming. The press has after all been wooing and lavishing attention on Julius Malema by giving him more column centimeters than he deserves.
And, finally when he invited some of them to his Luthuli House bedroom (press conference) to parrot his hero Robert Mugabe, they caved in quicker than a Rosebank hooker seeing a tourist walk towards her.
He gang banged the whole lot of them. And, by the sounds of the giggling (as heard on Radio 702 and SABC 3 News), they seemed to be enjoying it.
Not one of them protested when he swore at (“*******”) and threw BBC journalist Jonah Fisher out of the press conference. No, they flaccidly lay on their backs in heat waiting to see what Malema was going to do next to titillate them. They didn’t have the energy, nor moral fibre to support the maligned Fisher and walk out in solidarity with him. Perhaps they couldn’t hear because their knees were firmly against their ears and Malema was whispering “*******”, “agent” which must have drowned out his “kill the boer, kill the farmer” vitriol.
They had a second chance to protest after Malema tore into them. They just took it and giggled like a masochistic harem and spread their legs even wider and bent over even further as he ravished them inch by stupid inch.
They had an ideal opportunity to walk out and show Malema that they had too much self-respect to listen to him as he lost his last marble.
They didn’t because they were enjoying the porn show they had created way too much.
Unfortunately, it was more of a snuff movie. In this instance, journalistic dignity, self-respect and integrity died when these weaklings chose to ignore the serious slight to a fellow journalist and to themselves.
The National Press Club should have these flaccid journalists up in front of an ethics committee to explain their lack of backbone.
Not only should Julius Malema apologise to Jonah Fisher, these weaklings should apologise to Jonah Fisher and the country.
CRAZY STUFF!
This is really shocking, the last page, changed my life
I’m out of there!
This is really shocking, the last page, changed my life
I think the AWB was acting in accord to what “Bra” Julius had to say…. and if it is one bullet one boer… how about one boer ten of them in return…. it is only a freedom to express ourselves and we can as much as they. To long we stood in silence and watched how our women and children got raped and killed.
How do we read that… we condemn it but, it’s ok to do it again. ANC do not follow through with these statements they make. I’m looking forward to see what the next malema interview with the BBC will bring.. should be good fun to watch!
I am Ray Hartley, the editor of The Sunday Times in South Africa.
1 |
|
2617 Article Views Today |
Pendock Uncorked |
||
2 |
|
2048 Article Views Today |
The Wheel Deal |
||
3 |
|
1793 Article Views Today |
Minor Matters |
||
4 |
|
1289 Article Views Today |
The Social |
||
5 |
|
1191 Article Views Today |
The Wild Frontier |
||
6 |
|
866 Article Views Today |
The Frock Report |
||
7 |
|
341 Article Views Today |
The Wanderer |
||
8 |
|
272 Article Views Today |
Foreign Affairs |
||
9 |
|
177 Article Views Today |
Expensive Beliefs |
||
10 |
|
175 Article Views Today |
Tracking HIV |
||
| View More Top Blogs | ||
Latest Times LIVE Multimedia
Gerhard
April 9, 2010 at 12:24 pmI am glad to see that the ANC is taking the honorable stances on these subjects.
I completely agree with everything said in this press release, except I would really like them to take some sort of disciplinary action against Julius Malema. (In exactly the same way it would have been handled if this was any corporate company)