afrol News, 17 June - South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday swiftly responded to the comments attributed the party's youth wing leader, Julius Malema, that South African youths were prepared to die in support of the party President Jacob Zuma.

Peaceloving South Africans scolded Malema on his comments at a rally in the Free State on Monday that "we are prepared to die for Zuma. We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma."

The ANC warned that it would not condone "any statements or actions that may inflame emotions or undermine the principled position the organization has taken."

The party said the ANC Youth League is an autonomous body of the ANC, and "as such, it is entitled to articulate its own policies and positions on public platform."

"It does not represent the official position of the ANC as a political party," ANC Spokesperson Jessie Duarte said. "We want the Youth League to support the party but it should not make reckless statements."

The ruling party also vowed to defend against any attempts to undermine the judiciary's integrity. It therefore urged all South Africans of all to respect due legal process.

However, the ANC is worried over the way Zuma had been treated by the National Prosecuting Agency during the past eight years, maintaining support for him when he appears in court.

Zuma, who became the ANC leader in December, is awaiting to be tried on fraud and bribery charges resulting from a major arms deal. He had all along maintained his innocence, and promised to resign upon found guilty by the courts. Majority of his supporters said the charges were calculated to block Zuma's chances of succeeding President Thabo Mbeki to the throne next year.

The opposition Democratic Alliance joined an array of condemnation on the ANCYL President, criticising him for not doing favour for his party and the country that is battling crimes. He was asked to take responsibility for the reckless statement.

DA Chairperson Dulandi van Heerden asked Malema to bear responsibility for what he had said. "The warning lights must be flickering over these statements by Julius Malema that they would murder to stand by Zuma," Van Heerden told 'Sapa', warning that such statements instilled fear in people to the extent of leaving the country.

"This is not good for the economy, thousands of job opportunities are lost for young people because overseas investors do not want to invest in the country."

By staff writer

© afrol News

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