10th February 2009 

The IFP Youth Brigade has lambasted Mr. Julius Malema, President of the ANC Youth League, as a fanatic who is an embarrassment to everything African and civilized. Reacting to a reported Malema statement accusing the IFP President, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, of clinging to power when his contemporaries have long stepped down, the Acting National Chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade, Ms Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi said: 

"It is daily becoming obvious that Mr. Julius Malema, President of the ANC Youth League, is an irresponsible fanatic who knows nothing about civility. Being a fanatic may not be wrong on its own. However, what makes Malema's fanaticism disgusting is that he displays an utter disdain for everything African and ethical.  

"First, as the Youth Brigade, we want to place on record that we, in agreement with the whole membership of the IFP, still have confidence in the leadership of our President. Secondly, we need no Malemas of this world to meddle in the affairs of the IFP since we do not interfere in the allegations and problems currently plaguing the ANC and its President.  

"For a young man of his age to treat an elder statesman like Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi like dirt shows that Malema's family background and upbringing were shaky to say the least.

"It is disturbing that some among the youth have seen a leader in Malema. For these youth to entrust their future on such an individual unfortunately indicates that we still have a long way to go to educate our youth and the general public about moral leadership and democracy.

"Lastly, we call on the leadership of the ANC to rein in Malema and those of his ilk because they are a threat to all the hard work done by sane leaders within both the ANC and IFP towards peace and reconciliation and towards normalizing relations between the two organisations."

Issued by:
Ms Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi, MP
Acting Chairperson: IFP Youth Brigade           078 186 3619