Post date: Sep 18, 2012 3:47:56 PM
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2012) (REUTERS) - Expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema attacked President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday (September 18), a day after police prevented him from addressing striking miners at Wonderkop Stadium in Marikana.
Expelled ANC Youth League (ACNE) leader Julius Malaga has launched an attack on President Jacob Zoom, a day after he was denied access to address striking miners in Marianna.
Malema said President Jacob Zuma had militarised police like all dictators when he took office.
"We have cautioned South Africa before that since Jacob Zuma took over leadership of South African state, we have seen introduction of dictatorship and extremely intolerant forms of leadership. Because of his inability to persuade and politically convince those that don't agree with him, he has resorted to using force in his leadership style," said Malema.
Malema has become Zuma's most strident critic and has urged strikers to make mines "ungovernable".
He told the media President Zuma has declared a state of emergency in the mines.
"We have also instructed our legal representative to find ways of setting aside the state of emergency declared by the South African government because it has potential to further degenerate the state of affairs in the mines," Malema said.
According to media reports Malema could be arrested before the end of this week, as an investigation by the elite crime fighting unit, the Hawks into allegations of corruption against him wraps up.
Malema allegedly secured several tenders for Limpopo businessmen during his tenure as ANC Youth League leader.
"The Hawks (an elite crime fighting unit) have been arresting me every weekend for the last three years. Every time when I embark on a political programme I know the following Monday - Malema to be arrested," he said.
Malema said he went to Marikana on Monday (September 17) to give the miners and residents who were shot by rubber bullets at the weekend his support.
"We went to Marikana to give those people support and all that. There was a story - Malema to be arrested. Once there is a political programme, there is a response of arrest," said Malema.
The government has been intensifying efforts to contain labour unrest at the mines of the world's top platinum producer, Lonmin.
South African police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse striking miners on Saturday after seizing machetes and other weapons in an early-morning raid, a day after South Africa promised to crack down on "illegal gatherings" and the carrying of weapons by strikers.