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Alexander Joe / AFP - Getty Images
South Africa police stand guard as about 2,000 people demonstrate on Oct. 27, 2011 in downtown Johannesburg to demand jobs, in a protest organized by the militant youth wing of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Protesters were bused in from around the country to support the Youth League leader Julius Malema, who accuses his party's leadership of not doing enough to create jobs in a country with 25.7 percent unemployment.
JOHANNESBURG - Young South Africans brought their frustration over poverty and joblessness to the streets Thursday, responding to a call by the tough-talking youth leader of the governing African National Congress who has clashed with older party leaders over economic policy.
Julius Malema led the crowd in chants of "Down with white monopoly capital!" as it approached the Chamber of Mines headquarters.
The Chamber of Mines' chief executive, who is black, accepted a list of demands from the protesters, including nationalization of 60 percent of the country's lucrative mines. Bheki Sibaya later told reporters his industry group wanted to work with Malema to find solutions, including helping pay to educate black South Africans, but rejected the demands of nationalization to address the national economic crisis. Read more…
Alexander Joe / AFP - Getty Images
ANC youth wing leader Julius Malema addresses protesters on Oct. 27, 2011 during a demonstration in downtown Johannesburg.
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This is why there is no future in that country. I am sad to say this because I was born and raised there and I love South Africa with all my heart. It gets into your blood and seeing it turn into this anarchy makes me want to cry. Simultaneous to this, young South Africans of other color than the black youth cannot find jobs because of affirmative action that has no sunset ... when are they going to stop paying for the sins of our fathers? When are any other races going to be welcomed as Africans?
Nationalisation will just kill the income from mining, and with the record of the government there regarding fraud, not much of the income will be shared with this radical element in society in any case. Very strange that they can dance behind the pied piper, who in this case is as corrupt as the rest of the government and definitely not destitute. Maybe due to the spoils of victory which are spread around for those in the inner circle.
It is better for myself and the next generation of misplaced colonialists to just remove ourselves from this tragedy waiting to happen.