Julius Malema

DAILY BYTE

The disciplinary enquiry of Julius Malema last week at Luthuli House certainly made headline news. I, like many others, found myself captivated by the story. In the first instance, I have long been concerned about the kind of leadership that Mr Malema has offered. The issue for me has not been the specifics of the policies that he has espoused, even though I may not agree with much of them. The issue for me has been the way in which he has exercised his leadership. The Christ-like example of servant leadership has, in my opinion, been totally absent in him as he has pursued a political agenda designed to bolster his own power within the ruling party. To that end he has traded freely in the currency of populist rhetoric, unconcerned about the divisive effects of his utterances. The influence of leadership carries with it a weighty responsibility that it be exercised in ways that do not sow further seeds of prejudice and division. Calling Mr Malema to account for his words and actions is appropriate, as indeed it is for any leader who wields their influence with arrogant disdain.

In the second instance I’ve been fascinated by this story because it offers a rare glimpse into the workings of the leadership of the ANC. As a few political commentators have observed, the charging of Julius Malema is an opening salvo in the leadership struggle within the ruling party that will continue to unfold until the elective conference in Mangaung next year. How the ANC leadership handles this Malema matter will be hugely instructive of the political fault lines within the party. Certainly, the brash and open display of anti-Zuma sentiment by the ANC Youth League members outside Luthuli House last week, has illustrated the depth of the rift that the ANC is facing.

You may be wondering the relevance of these comments in a devotional blog like this. Well, the ways in which power is exercised, conflict is handled, dissension is responded to and unity maintained or abandoned are all matters that are of key relevance to the Christian faith. And certainly when it comes to the church, the way in which we manage these things is of central importance to the kind of witness we offer to the world.

Make no mistake, if the church has little to offer by way of an alternative to the kind of petty power squabbling that was on display at Luthuli House last week, then we have failed to understand what kind of community Christ calls us to be. Over the next couple of days we will explore this theme further as we think about the things that make for vibrant, healthy and Christ-like communities, especially in the face of the reality of conflict.

PRAY AS YOU GO

God of grace, in the conflictual situations of our lives you call us to embrace a different way from the authoritarian, power-grabbing ways of the world. Remind us of the example of Jesus, and help us to put his example into practice in the day-to-day living of our lives. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Philippians 2:4-7

‘Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,taking the very nature of a servant...’