Youth Support for Malema Dwindling

Courtesy of http://www.trust.org/

The rise of a politician

He came in as a rock star politician and took South Africa by storm. He said what he liked and did not care what anybody else thought as long as he believed it he was right. The youth of South Africa were amazed, especially young black youth who saw a fresh face to politics and did not mind his radicalism. Julius Malema came in and it seemed he had conquered the trust and loyalty of the youth, but has he really? The past month has proven the unshakable giant can indeed be moved and the long standing support is now slowly diminishing right from the bottom looking up.

South Africa and the world watched in shock when the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) supporters caused havoc outside Chief Albert Luthuli House last month, in support for the Youth League presidentMalema. He was making his first appearance before the mother body, the African National Congress (ANC) disciplinary committee on a list of charges which include bringing the party into disrepute and causing divisions within its ranks.

While the youth outside Luthuli House burned ANC flags and T shirts with ANC President Jacob Zuma‘s face while chanting songs, it seemed Malema’s support was unstoppable; they were aggressive and made it clear their love they president. Many said the crowd outside Luthuli house represented majority the of the youth in the country, but take a second and pause to think which youth was it really? The majority of the supporters in that crowd were from Limpopo, this is Malema’s home town and it is not a surprise that he would have a stronger base there, but what about the rest of the country.

Exaggerated figure

Ayanda Mthembu an engineering student at the University of Kwazulu Natal said Malema has become an over exaggerated figure. “I don’t really care what he says anymore, and it is irritating that we always have to deal with him” she added. This is starting to be a common trend across the country. In an article written by the Times website about the diminishing fire brand that is Malema. A fourteen year old teenager by the name of Thato commented, he would never vote for the ANC until the corruptions ends, he added “It would never end, Malema gets to do whatever he wants and ignorant people will just follow.”

Sinking Ship?

The TNS research survey was conducted and it revealed Malema is fast losing support in urban areas of this country. According to the survey support for the ANCYL president shows a consistent decline over the last 18 months, the research shows a significant gender difference among young  blacks who are now 26% last year’s 30%, with females showing a much less interest then they male counter parts, Only 22% of  black women support Malema compared to 31% of black males. The 23% unemployed support Malema while 16% employed give him there support. The studies which were conducted among 1 260 blacks, 385 whites, 240 coloureds and 115 Indians/Asians,  showed when considering age groups, he has the support of 26% of people between 18 and 24, and 22% of those between 25 and 34. His support dropped to 7% among people aged 35 to 49. This survey confirms his popularity has dropped and there seems to be no turning back.

Malema’s support is sinking to a whole new low and it seems the firebrand rise is losing its base. The media has played part in raising the youth leader and is now burring him alive. An article poster by the Daily newspaper quote said “Malema not a political god”. 

But with the research study showing a heavy decline in supporter ship they is still those who believe in the “Malema factor”,  Siboniso Mzobe a student and member of the South African Student Congress Organisation(SASCO), said people should not be fooled and he is in full support of Malema “I am young and not stupid but I support Malema”. Mzobe is definitely  not alone many young youths still feel this way, Malema will not go down without a fight and will kick and scream until he is down.

Celebrate a green clean world.

With Durban to host the seventeenth conference of the parties (COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) and CMP7 being held in Durban later this year it came as no surprise the annual Community Engagement hosted by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) would have a green theme in mind.

The event which took place at City Campus Arthur Smith Hall started on a sad note with a moment of silence as a candle was lit in memory of photojournalist Anton Hammerl who was recently killed while on assignment in war torn Libya. Speaking towards the life of Hammerl, Mbali Dhlomo, vice chairman of the Dut journalism advisory board said “It takes people of courage to be in front of the lines to be our eyes and ears and we shall keep them in our prayers.” Adv Robin Sewlall who is also the head of department for the Journalism department added that society depends deeply on journalists to know what is happening.

Many NGO’s where present to talk and educate the audience more on the climate. Organisations included the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA), Durban Green Corridor, One Home One Garden, KZN Substance Fisher’s Forum and many more.

Gabriella Peppers speaking on behalf of the Durban Green Corridor spoke about the uMngeni Green Precinct and Green Hub which are an innovative and sustainable, environmentally responsible building at Blue Lagoon Park, housing nature based tourism, education and promotion centre. When asked by an audience member what initiatives the Durban Green Corridor has in place to better educate the youth of the impoverished neighbourhoods that they work around. Peppers had to elaborate that both the uMngeni Green Precinct and Green Hub are continuously working with the communities of uMngeni and iNanda to educate them more about the environment and it surroundings. “Just recently we had a graduates in the iNanda area where we gave them employment while teaching them about the environment and the many alien plant which are a huge problem for the area” said Peppers.

WESSA activist Jenny Duvenage made a point to educate students who dared to listen outside of the Arthur Smith Hall, teaching us about the importance of a clean green planet. Duvenage apologised for the lack of material saying she would have loved to bring more but a problem with a printer prevented her. Making reference on the upcoming seventeenth conference of the parties (COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will be held in Durban later this year, Duvenage said “This is the time for all of those who believe in a better world to stand together and represent a united front.” She continued saying this world affects all those who live in it and if we continue to treat it this way we will bear the consequences.

The day ended on a high note with the top achieving students in the journalism department being awarded for their performance on the previous year. 

A PRIVALLEGE FORGOTTEN

                                                                     Just under 24 hours before our country embarks on the local government elections, many youths around the country are still confused on whether they should even wake up tomorrow morning and cast they votes. So I sat down with second year Journalism student Anathi Teyise to get her opinion on the elections.

 “ I am still deciding on whether  to even vote tomorrow,” said Teyise. No party is offering what I want and I hate the way other parties use the past to coarse me into voting for them she added. Teyise who resides in Newlands East admits that her community is better off now but says a lack of visible councillors is a problem, Teyise does not know the councillor in her area and feels he should have put more effort in familiarising himself with the community he is in charge of.

Teyise feels the current local government elections are too much of a gamble. “ All the political parties are putting in their best to make sure they hook you in, leaving a bad taste in my mouth.” She makes an emphasis on the remarks made by the President of the country and the ANC Jacob Zuma. When he said “Vote ANC go to heaven” this remark left a bitter taste in my mouth Teyise said.

Teyise is amongst the many youth who feel let down by the Local government elections. Simthembile Mbatha  also a journalism 2^nd year student, in a class discussion Mbatha said he felt let down by the ruling party as they made a big deal out of the Western Cape open toilet saga when they to were gulity of the same crime. Mbatha said this is the reason why he would not vote come Wednesday.

Sheziville: The Coloureds, The Indians, Jimmy Many and Khuli R...

Sheziville: The Coloureds, The Indians, Jimmy Manyi and Khuli R...: "When we got this assignment I was Absent as I started the school year later then others, and so me and my partners were undoubtedly confused..."

The Coloureds, The Indians, Jimmy Many and Khuli Roberts

When we got this assignment I was Absent as I started the school year later then others, and so me and my partners were undoubtedly confused about what the assignment entitled us to achieve. My partner and I ended up choosing a topic that not only made tongue wangs around the country but also touched those around us. Yes I am talking about the statements made by the Spokesperson for the Government Jimmy Manyi on a television show last year and an article written by Khuli Roberts and published by Sunday World. Both the comments made by these individuals caused a rave and forced our country to once again talk about race.

Now our first reflective piece was something that we did much research on but we failed miserably. After much analysis we realised that our piece looked to much like an Academic article and lacked human emotion that we were required to potray. Ayesha wanted us to interview people that were accessible to us and our piece included many expert that we did not interview ourselves but we looked for on the net. It was hard to see our results and it was more frastrating because I was lost on what was expected of us.

Our second piece was much better then the first one as we had a hang of it, we did not have a good mark but it was a pass. We interviewed people around us as what was expexted of us and the topic we chose demanded we do that we asked around on how the Indian and Coloured young people feel about the new proposed labour equity law which will mean that people of Indian and Coloured decent will have to move out of the provinces, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal to get more opportunities with work if such a bill is passed. I enjoyed it very much doing the second draft and enjoyed doing it better. I feel that due to lack of communication with our lecturer we did not perform to the best of out abilities and that is what killed us in the end and made us get a very low mark then we would have got had we had better understanding of the task at hand.