Ending the Malema revolt

During the past five years Julius Malema has become a deadly threat to future public order and peace. He has grown in fame and popularity as a radical youth and political party leader, way beyond the expectations of critics and experts.

It would appear that the political influences and learning he had been exposed to from an early age had deeply convinced him that all white people are the enemies of all black people and that he must cause a revolution in South Africa to stop the racial animosity and hatred. He is also convinced that by doing this he will change land and business ownership and thus eradicate the homelessness, unemployment and poverty amongst black people.

To date, nobody has been able to identify who the sponsors of his political party’s expenses, political branding and dress are and what their true intensions are. There are many foreign governments with their eyes on the incredible mineral wealth and industries of South Africa and one of them may have decided to invest in a revolution. The speedy formation and political success of the EFF bear the characteristics of a well orchestrated change programme, with initially a very visible awareness campaign (think red dress), then the articulation of a party vision to inspire the desire and hope of the people and now the attack on the values, intent, practices and premises of governing institutions and private businesses. The next phase would be to cause chaos in the streets and communities and then to deploy the national forces to restore peace and impose a new leadership.

What should the South African government do to stop the evolving revolution? They must try and recruit and deploy Malema as a minister of youth development and thus channel his influence. Or they could appoint him as a deputy president responsible for social development and award him a budget that will enable him to visibly reduce slums, poverty and hardship.

Taking a softer and more tolerant stance against Malema and the EFF in parliament will not work, because relations will just become worse. They must minimize Malema’s public exposure and influence. His courage, charisma and articulation, exposed by his growing public and media presence, must be deployed into a job and environment where he will not be a public threat.