SOUTH AFRICAN President Jacob Zuma has reassured MPs that he has admonished Julius Malema for supporting Zanu-PF, and reiterated that the ANC Youth League leader's views on nationalisation of mines were not ANC policy.

IFP MP Velaphi Ndlovu asked Zuma if Malema's visit to Zimbabwe last month, in which he expressed support for Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and denounced Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC, had hampered his mediation role in Harare.

Speaking Zulu, Ndlovu asked: "If a person under your leadership, being your child, says something different to what you are doing what should you do as an elder?

"How do you explain this to those who have mandated you (to mediate in Zimbabwe)... about the problem of a child differing with you as an adult?"

Responding in Zulu, Zuma said he had dealt with Malema about his conduct in Zimbabwe. "In fact, when your child steps out of line you admonish him and I admonished the child. Secondly, this is not a matter to be reported to the SADC.

"There are many people who are talking about the issue of Zimbabwe. If I can collect all the things said about Zimbabwe, my report will be a very huge pile. What is important is that I'm going to table a report in the SADC that is directly related to my work. Even though the children were admonished, that did not interrupt our work there," Zuma responded.

Questioned by DA MP James Selfe on Malema's comments to the mineral resources committee on Wednesday - that the ANC Youth League's views had always prevailed and that was why they were confident they would win the nationalisation debate within the ANC - Zuma insisted that those were Malema's views.

"We have said that Mr Malema, like any other South African, has a right to his views and his views are his views. It could be the views of the ANCYL as well. Historically, the ANC Youth League has had views, very strong views. It does not mean that all views were accepted... but they always had views and raised issues and the matters will be discussed and a resolution taken.

"It's not new that the ANC is articulating certain things; the ANC Youth League has always done so. He was making that simple point that they will debate the issues in trying to win the debate.

"In the ANC we are a democratic organisation. On this matter the ANC has a policy. We don't have a nationalisation policy as the ANC. We invited you... (to) debate the issue with Malema," said Zuma. He was responding to questions from MPs in the National Assembly.

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