Johannesburg – ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema is planning to visit the volatile Sakhile township in Mpumalanga, but has been warned by President Jacob Zuma “to behave” himself.

Malema will travel to the Standerton township today.

According to Malema, Zuma reacted warily when he heard of the plan.

“He (Zuma) said to me, ‘I hope you are not going to fuel the fire there because we have a problem we are dealing with’. So, we (the youth league) are called to order.”

Malema said Zuma warned him by saying: “If you go there, you must behave.”

The youth leader also slammed violent protests, saying people burning tyres while wearing T-shirts bearing pictures of Zuma’s face were discrediting the president.

“They (protesters) must barricade the roads with themselves, just standing on the road without fire. Then the police will not do anything to them.”

Meanwhile, Malema envisages a South Africa where the state owns 60% of all mines to “generate extra income” for the government.

“The nationalisation of mines will happen, the Freedom Charter says that,” Malema told reporters here yesterday.

He said the ANC must have its mind made up about it in time for its next conference in 2012. An internal paper was already being drafted within the party for discussion.

“We want the ANC in the conference in 2012 to pronounce what is the stand of the ANC on the nationalisation of mines ... we need a decisive leadership, we don’t want cowards,” Malema said.

However, he was quick to explain this did not mean the government would “grab already existing mines”.

“You don’t grab already existing mines, you allow ... their licences to expire. With the new licence you issue, you have that element of majority share-holding by the state.

“As you issue from now, moving forward, you’re not giving 100% to the private sector, you’re going into a 60/40 partnership,” Malema said. – Sapa