'Shut up and grow up'

iafrica.com reader Andrew de Pomeroy-Legg is enraged by the ANC Youth League's latest bout of hate speech. He reckons it's time the Youth League grows up, and, until such a time, shuts up!

In the words of ANCYL Free State chairperson Thebe Meeko: "the shoot-to-kill approach must also apply to all the racists, including Jansen ̵ because he is a racist"

In the words of the incomprehensible Floyd Shivambu, "We say what we mean and we mean what we say".

So it is clear then. According to the ANCYL, Jonathan Jansen must be shot dead. Murdered. I see no other interpretation when the word "racists" as opposed to "racism" is used in Meeko's statement.

Of course, now that the cat is out of the bag, no one meant anything they said!

It is about time that the ANC Youth League starts saying what they mean, and taking responsibility for it! For goodness sakes, they are certainly old enough. On the other hand, if they are indeed incapable of choosing spokesmen who can articulate their beliefs clearly (which seems to be the case), they should just shut up.

It is high time that they and their parent body, the ANC, are held responsible for this type of behavior and stop using the excuse of youth. Africa has a shameful history of child soldiers, violence and criminality, and we do not need this type of irresponsible destructive behavior promulgated by the intentionally aggravating comments of the "youth" in the ANCYL.

Their only way of being popular and making a name for themselves seems to be through easy-come-easy-go hate speech, as opposed to actually doing something intelligent and constructive towards building a better South Africa.

It is high time that some of the adults in this country, and in particular in the ANC, start to hold these buffoons responsible for the offensive and dangerous drivel they spout.

Come on President Zuma, put your money where your mouth is (or is it your mouth where your money is?) and discipline these people who speak in the name of the ANC. Are you man enough, or do they suit your agenda just fine? Until you prove otherwise, I, for one, will certainly assume the latter.

I think that what the Reitz Four did was humiliating and disgusting, and that they should be held fully accountable for it, just as the ANCYL must now be held accountable for their hate speech.

Of course, using ANCYL logic, the Reitz four could just say, "Oh, we did not mean to urinate in their food", and get of scot-free. I bet that would be a bone in the throat of our brothers and sisters in black, green and yellow.

Justice must apply equally to all, so to the ANCYL I say: take your justice just as you demand it be given to others. Feeble excuses hold no water beyond the playground. According to your own ANCYL Policy on Education, you strive for 100 percent literacy. Clearly you have some way to go, even with your spokesmen and senior office bearers. Get on with it, but in the mean time, shut up and, for all our sakes, grow up!

In defence of Prof Jansen Rebekah Kendal has come out in defence of Professor Jonathan Jansen over the Reitz saga.

'Shut up and grow up' The ANCYL's latest bout of hate speech has left iafrica reader Andrew de Pomeroy-Legg fuming.

Visit our politics page Need the latest political news, features, interviews and profiles? Visit our dedicated page...