Julius Malema, the last vestige of anti-apartheid youth era ANC wingers today formed a new party – Economic Freedom Wingers party, warning his former party that ‘a new baby has been born’.
Addressing thousands near the Marikana mine, a historic, albeit sad ground, where 34 miners were shot dead by police during last year’s violent strikes, Malema waxed lyrical.
“A different baby is born today, a giant… A child that walks immediately. The baby that fights for your living wage,” Mr Malema said.
“You must be afraid of that child,” he warned, wearing his trademark red beret. And his views on South Africa:
“This is the home for the hopeless.”
The former leader of the African National Congress’ youth league was expelled from the ruling party for ill discipline last year.
He once again called for the expropriation of white land owners and lashed out at President Jacob Zuma and the ANC, which he intends to take on in polls next year.
Mr Malema describes his EFF as “radical left, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist”.