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The attack by the Democratic Alliance Youth leadership on President Jacob
Zuma's support for the ANC Youth League (ANC YL) President, Julius Malema,
as a future ANC leader, is ill-informed and smacks on political opportunism.

The statement by President Jacob Zuma, that Cde Julius Malema, is a leader
in the making and that he is worthy of inheriting the ANC, is in keeping
with the culture of leadership development within the ANC and is
historically correct. We therefore support President Zuma's assertion.

Through the leadership of Julius Malema, the ANC YL has built a house for a
destitute family in Seshego and they further built a church for the same
community. They have helped orphanages and provided teaching and learning
support materials to many schools around the country. They also have
mobilised funding to the tune of R250.000, for our golden girl, the Female
800m gold medallist, Caster Semenya, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi - the Men's 800m gold
medallist- and Kgotso Mokoena - the silver medallist in the men's long jump.

Anyone who leads an organisation that contributes towards the betterment of
the people of our country deserves to be appraised. It is therefore not
surprising that the President of the ANC praised Julius Malema and the ANC
YL leadership on this wonderful effort that showed that the YL and Julius
Malema cares.

When the present leadership of the ANC retires, Julius Malema, who has
served the ANC from a young age of nine (9), to the President of the
Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and now to the President of the
ANC YL, like any other member of the ANC, who has been schooled in the
politics of the organisation, can assume any leadership position within the
ANC if elected. In his own right, Julius Malema can continue to volunteer
his services to the ANC and to all South Africans.

The ANC YL has always been a leadership preparatory school for future ANC
leaders. Since the formation of the ANC YL in 1944, headed by leaders such
as Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, O. R. Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and A. P. Mda
inter alia, the Youth League has contributed immensely in producing leaders
of distinction who championed the programme of Action for the ANC.

Leaders such as Nelson Mandala are amongst a crop of leaders who grew within
the structures and teachings of the ANC YL. In recent times, the Youth
League has produced leaders in the likes of Peter Mokaba, Malusi Gigaba and
Fikile Mbalula. They all assumed effective leadership of the ANC as members
of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

We have no doubt in our minds that Cde Julius Malema can follow in the
footsteps of such leaders.

The DA and the Christian Democratic Alliance should refrain from engaging in
debates on issues they don't know and understand. They could have
familiarised themselves first with the history of the ANC and saved
themselves any political embarrassment.

Fundamental questions to could be asked; what are they doing in response to
the needs of our people who are in dire need of shelter, water and decent
living standards? They must learn from the ANC YL and refrain from unduly
criticizing the leadership of the ANC.

The ANC, our Leagues and our Alliance partners remain committed to the
attainment of a better life for all. We will continue to groom and prepare
our members for future leadership role.