I'm not really one to pontificate about the machinations of politicians, online or elsewhere, but the lack of mature leadership and clear thinking is so blatant that I find myself unable to keep my opinions to myself.
How can anyone, after encouraging people to sing a song with the lyrics "kill the boer" or "kill the farmer" stand back and say... I'm in Zimbabwe. I had nothing to do with the incident? Could someone have the moral fibre to stand up and take responsibility for their actions - please?
SOME people might see the song as a rallying anti-apartheid cry with a history, and not see it as condoning violence against white people... but surely anyone can see that some are going to take the rallying cry literally? Just as violence on TV breeds an acceptance of violence in life, chanting slogans like this breeds an attitude that opposes everything enshrined in the constitution.
I'm also gob-smacked at the lack of intelligence I'm credited for... Extreme right-winger Eugene Terreblanche is violently murdered in bed. Two people are arrested, admitting to having killed the controversial figure over a wage dispute. A wage dispute? Come on? I know we have a high rate of crime and violence - but since when is a wage dispute negotiated with pipes and pangas? Clearly the motive was murder, not clarifying a wage issue...
While this might not be a politically motivated murder, this does not mean that the attitude encouraged by the song does not play a big part in killing being seen as a solution to problems.
But - of graver concern to me is this:
Malema is openly stating that he will disregard the legal ruling preventing him from singing the song. This sends a message potentially more damaging than singing "kill the boer". If there is no regard for the rule of law or judicial process when it does not rule in your favour... then we are indeed on the top of a very slippery slope to mayhem.
I'm also astounded to learn that Malema is on a fact finding mission to Zimbabwe to study their highly controversial redistribution process. My first question is: IF nationalisation is not ANC policy in the medium to long term, why is Malema investing so much effort in this. This has gone way beyond healthy "debate".
My second question is: Didn't the land redistribution policy in Zimbabwe turn a thriving agruclutral-based economy on its head and result in more poverty and hardship for most people (except ZANU-PF cronies)? Hasn't it just recovered from a bout of hyperinflation that had the economy spiraling totally out of control? I sure hope Malema is in Zimbabwe learning how NOT to go about redistribution and not taking tips on how it should be done!
My observation is this: The ANC in as hell-bent on supporting their right to sing their rallying war song as they were on electing Zuma as president - they want their will to prevail, irrespective of how bad it might look to other people.
But, the lack of censorship of Malema is the biggest concern... and while the ANC still tries to sit undaintily on the fence between the left/ride commercial divide, it is clear that policy IS inevitably going to move to the left despite assurances to the contrary. They have lost control and are simply not going to be left with any other option.
I'm still not sure what they hope to gain out of this - either they are total fools (which I do not believe) or there is a clear policy to create fear and stoke racial tension... but I fail to see who might benefit from it? Perhaps if they can intimidate farmers into leaving out of fear it solves the willing buyer, willing seller problem - but I suspect the plan is bigger than that.
But either way, we are shifting away from a democracy to a place where might is right.
