Malema promises political change in S Africa

Former ANC official launches Economic Freedom Fighters party in town where 34 striking miners were killed by police.

Al-Jazeera - October 14, 2013

South Africa's fiery young politician Julius Malema has told a rally of his new party that a "giant" has been born which should be feared and will fight for the poor.

Thousands had gathered near the Marikana mine on Sunday where 34 striking workers were shot dead by police in September 2012, to cheer the 32-year-old leader and his newly-formed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party.

"A different baby is born today, a giant ... A child that walks immediately. The baby that fights for your living wage," said Malema, who was last year expelled as head of the governing ANC Youth League (ANCYL) for bringing the party into disrepute,

"You must be afraid of that child," he warned, wearing his trademark red beret.

"This is the home for the hopeless."

Malema apologised for once backing President Jacob Zuma, saying he had given the country mediocrity by promoting a singer who was neither a thinker nor a reader.
Malema said there was no difference between the Marikana massacre and Sharpeville massacre of 1960, when apartheid police opened fire on protesters, killing 69 people.
Malema said he picked on Marikana as the venue for the party's launch because the slain miners were economic freedom fighters, the City Press newspaper reported.
Security forces last year opened fire on striking workers at a platinum mine in Marikana, killing 34 miners in a crackdown reminiscent of the apartheid-era police brutality.

The government has since instituted a commission of inquiry to investigate the fatal shootings which were preceded by an attack in which police officers were allegedly killed by miners.

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