Gigaba takes aim at corruption, racism

Militants in the ANC Youth League could be seen as anarchists because they lacked the discipline and patience to achieve economic freedom, Public Enterprises Minister and former league president Malusi Gigaba said yesterday.

“Military and discipline are two sides of the same coin, you can’t push democratic national revolution unless you want fundamental change. But a militant who has no discipline is an anarchist,” he said while delivering the OR Tambo memorial lecture in Polokwane.

“Militant is what makes you think deeper, which makes you want to be radical and seek far-reaching change. Militant does not mean swearing, it does not mean insulting fellow comrades, it does not mean throwing chairs and stones at fellow comrades and it does not mean jumping on top of the table with your pants down,” Gigaba said.

The crowd responded by calling out the name of embattled league president Julius Malema, who has repeatedly called league members “economic freedom fighters” who want the nationalisation of mines and want to take the country’s economy back from “white capital”.

Gigaba said OR Tambo was a disciplined and patient leader of the league.

“OR Tambo once said, ‘The youth are correct to be impatient for victory, but they must delay because you must never act contrary to what people see is their interest’.”

He said a love of money among members was killing the ANC.

“We must switch off taps of corruption and arrest those who are involved in corruption,” he said.

He also criticised Malema for chanting slogans that promoted racism and were anti-ANC.

“You can’t go and be ANC Youth League and become anti-ANC Youth League at the same time.” - Cape Times