7 June 2010, 10:30
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By Political Bureau
Julius Malema wants municipalities and government departments to hire ANC cadres and has appealed to the government to stop giving tenders to incompetent companies, including one associated with him.
The ANC Youth League head told a rally in Limpopo yesterday that ANC volunteers should be given priority when filling government positions.
"We appeal to municipalities and departments to hire our people, especially volunteers of the ANC... who conducted door-to-door campaigns, distributed posters and recruited (members) for the ANC," he said.
"ANC volunteers must (get) priority when hiring, and not girlfriends of officials (who) don't smile when we go to the government offices. ANC volunteers will treat members of the public better, and with a smile because they know that voters should be well serviced."
Malema, who is linked to SGL, an engineering company that controversially won tenders in Limpopo, appealed to Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale to ban companies with a history of shoddy work.
"We told Mathale that if there is any company that's won a tender, but doing substandard work, taking money but people not getting the roads, such company should be banned. Whether it is SGL or any other company. We don't care. It must not get the tender. We don't care who owns that company," he said to laughter.
Malema was a director of SGL, which reportedly failed to complete a bridge contract.
Malema also warned President Jacob Zuma against the president's closest advisers, who he said were trying to drive a wedge between him and the youth league.
"We will continue to support you... There is an agenda, I don't know if those who are working with you have given you that advice, but there are people working day in and out to make sure that there is a gap between you and the ANC Youth League," he told the rally.
These comments come amid heightened tension in the alliance after the ANC castigated Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi for urging Zuma to probe corruption allegations against ministers.
The ANC succession war is escalating between so-called nationalists and leftists.
The youth league has said it wants Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula to replace Gwede Mantashe as ANC secretary-general in 2012.
While denying this yesterday, Malema did not rule out the possibility of supporting Mbalula at the ANC's centenary conference.
"We never said Fikile Mbalula is going to be secretary-general... and if we have arrived at that determination, we will not be afraid to say it."
An ANC veteran warned Zuma to end factions in the party before South Africa became another Zimbabwe.
Order of the Baobab laureate Rashaka Ratshitanga, a poet who is provincial secretary of ANC veterans, used the Peter Mokaba memorial lecture to remind Zuma of factionalism in the organisation.
"(Mr President, please) dedicate your time with the leaders you are working with to end factionalism. We will play into the hands of imperialists. We know that's what happened in Zimbabwe. Let's not be Zimbabwe," Ratshitanga said.
This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on June 07, 2010
The Star
Comments by Sonny
What message is Malema sending out now?
Is he up to more of his dirty tricks?
The ANC should rather concentrate on "better service delivery' where none exists!
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