Sandton
Sandton skyline from Megawatt Park
Sandton Location in Greater Johannesburg
Sandton
Coordinates: 26°6.42′S 28°3.1′E / 26.107°S 28.0517°E / -26.107; 28.0517Coordinates: 26°6.42′S 28°3.1′E / 26.107°S 28.0517°E / -26.107; 28.0517
Country	South Africa
Province	Gauteng
Municipality	City of Johannesburg
Area[1]
• Total	133.84 km2 (51.68 sq mi)
Population (2001)[1]
• Total	125,577
• Density	940/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)[1]
• Black African	32.6%
• Coloured	1.4%
• Indian/Asian	5.5%
• White	60.6%
First languages (2001)[1]
• English	65.1%
• Zulu	7.7%
• Northern Sotho	5.2%
• Tswana	4.9%
• Other	17.1%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Website	http://www.sandtoncentral.co.za/

Sandton is a wealthy area situated within the metro of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. The name comes from the combination of two of its suburbs, Sandown and Bryanston. In 1969 Sandton was promulgated as a municipality in its own right,^[2] but lost its status as an independent town after the re-organisation of South African local governments.^[3]

History[link]

Early Settlers[link]

Archaeological findings suggest the area, which Sandton comprises today, had originally been occupied by various indigenous groups, before European settlement. Most notably the Tswana people. The first of the Voortrekkers to settle in the area were those of the Esterhuysens of Zandfontein. A monument to commemorate them may be found just off Adrienne Street. In the 1870s the Wilhelmi family of Hanover, Germany acquired the farm Driefontein No.3. Driefontein along with the farms Rietfontein and Zandfontein encumbered what is today Sandton. Their original home, now within the confines of the Field & Study Centre, was looted during the Anglo-Boer War. Their 1906 Parkmore farmhouse served as the icon for the Sandton Historical Foundation. The Ehler family owned Rietfontein farm.

1960s[link]

The municipality was established as an extension of the city in 1969, after Johannesburg began to expand northwards. Initially it was very much a residential area consisting mostly of small holdings. This rural "horsey" lifestyle of Sandton gave it the image of being a smart address. It was dubbed the "mink and manure" belt of Johannesburg.

1990s[link]

After the demise of apartheid and the manifestation of the new political dispensation, Sandton first became part of the Eastern Metropolitan Substructure,^[4] and later became part of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality following new demarcations put forward by the government, and it no longer has a separate municipal government.

Role in 21st century Johannesburg[link]

Financial and business centre[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)

Sandton viewed from a commercial plane after take-off

A high crime rate in downtown Johannesburg caused many corporate offices to move from Johannesburg Central Business District to Sandton in the 1990s. It has become the new financial centre of South Africa and Johannesburg's premier business centre. Much of the financial focus of Johannesburg has shifted from the Central Business District to Sandton. However, three of South Africa's four largest banks have kept their head offices in downtown Johannesburg, along with Transnet, the transport parastatal. The other bank, Nedbank, has its headquarters in Sandton.

But much of the "new money" has moved north to Sandton, including investment banks, financial consultants and the like. A considerable amount of the city's A-grade office space is to be found in Sandton. The JSE Securities Exchange, Johannesburg's stock exchange, relocated its offices to Sandton from the central business district in the late 1990s. Sandton's gain was the central business district's loss: it resulted from urban blight of the downtown Johannesburg area.

Sandton is home to the Sandton Convention Centre, one of the largest convention centres on the continent and primary site of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (also known as "Rio + 10"), which Johannesburg hosted. The convention centre also hosted the African National Congress' victory celebrations after the party won the 2004 elections.

Massmart has its head office in the Massmart House in Sandton.^[5] Ster-Kinekor has its head office in the Ster-Kinekor Office Park in Eastgate, Sandton.^[6] IBM's and Hewlett Packard's main Southern Africa and South Africa offices are in Rivonia, Sandton.^[7][8]

Tourism and retail hub[link]

Sandton at night

One of the main attractions in Sandton is Sandton City, which ranks among the largest shopping centres in Africa. Together with Nelson Mandela Square, the centre, with some 144,000 m² of shopping space, is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere (behind Chadstone Shopping Centre).^[9] Much of Johannesburg's business tourism is centred on Sandton, which has a string of 5-star hotels.

It was recently announced by Liberty Properties that Sandton City will receive a R1,77-billion upgrade. Liberty Properties chief executive Samuel Ogbu has envisaged the complex as South Africa's very own Wall Street "Africa is not for sissies, but we have a bold vision, which is to see the Sandton City precinct as our own Wall Street." The redevelopment will include the construction of a 60-storey office tower, a new hotel, new retail and office space and residential apartments. The 60-storey office tower will be the tallest building in Africa, replacing the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg CBD. The extension will stretch to 30 000 m² and the total complex will have a gross lettable area of 158 000 m² . London-based RTKL Associates have been chosen to design the complex.^[10]

Nelson Mandela Square, formerly known as Sandton Square, was renamed in March 2004, after the unveiling of a 6-metre bronze statue of the former South Africa president. Perhaps ironically, Liliesleaf Farm, where Nelson Mandela lived in the early 1960s and where many leading political activists were arrested in 1963 and tried as part of the now infamous Rivonia Trial, is just north of Nelson Mandela Square, close to the N3 Highway, off Rivonia Road.

Media[link]

In 2007, CNBC Africa launched its headquarters for Africa, based in Sandton. From here the channel broadcasts to 41 countries on the continent with remote studios at the JSE and a fixed camera at the Nedbank head office, in Rivonia road.

In 2008, Sandton magazine was launched. The official slogan of the magazine is 'The Good Life in the Great North' and it strives to cater to the needs of the district’s top-end residential, tourist and business communities that drive the economic, social and retail pulse-point of the African continent. Sandton will have an initial print run of 30 000 (including 15 000 copies hand-delivered to Sandton’s finest homes and apartments, with another 7 500 distributed to Sandton hotel rooms, services and businesses, with the balance sold nationally at select retail outlets). The Sandton Convention Centre hosted the 2008 Miss World on 13 December 2008, as a replacement for Kiev, Ukraine.^[11]

Popular culture[link]

Sandton is often cited as a materialistic centre and refuge of the white flight from the Johannesburg CBD. Following the launch of Sandton Magazine, the town was satirized in a tongue-in-cheek satirical news story by Hayibo.com^[12] that was also published on the Sandton Magazine website. The headline comically read "Sandton magazine hailed as just what rich whites need." There is reference to the requirement of two wealthy young white people on the cover "to help frightened Sandtonians forget about Alexandra township next door." The spoof also uses the magazine's marketing slogan when "four Mozambicans wandered into the ballroom apparently in search of the good life in the great north." These Mozambicans are "tazered," a reference to the advanced crime-fighting technology in the suburb. The materialism is heightened with imaginary article headline "Botox your Botox: why your face can never be paralysed enough." The fears of a Zuma presidency are reiterated "Ten Zuma-proof off-shore investments you can hide from the taxman." The high rates of white emigration and fears post-2010 are also satirized "Likewise, should we be looking at Perth or London post-2010?." Ultimately, security and material items are cited as the solution to any problem in the country "We want to remind people that there is no problem this country can throw at you that you can’t solve with electric fencing and a pedicure."^[12]

Former Sandton resident and author, Sarah Britten cites the town regularly in her book The Art of the South African Insult. She cites the popularity that the town also holds with the growing black middle-class "Empowerment kugels don't hang out in Soweto; they do lunch in Sandton" and quotes columnist Therese Owen's advice to former TV-personality Kedibone, "Now that you're no longer wanted as a continuity presenter on SABC1, go hang out in Sandton and catch yourself a BEE boy." She also references a commentator on Moneyweb, "Sandton is attractive to the schmucks of this world—get over it—$s don't buy class."

"Africa's richest square mile"[link]

Maude Street adjacent to Sandton Convention Centre

The Sandton area is one of the most opulent in Johannesburg and South Africa, and therefore in Africa but not far away (only about 6 km) from Alexandra, one of the poorest former black townships.^{[citation needed]} Sandton covers an area of approximately 156 km² while Alexandra is just over 8 km². It is estimated that the population of Alexandra is the same as that of Sandton itself.

Due to the shortage^{[dubious – discuss]} of available land, the trend in new developments is to go skyward. This is evidenced by the new 140-metre tall Michelangelo Towers, which purports to offer Manhattan-style living in Johannesburg.^[13] The new apartment block will be the fourth-tallest building in Johannesburg and local newspaper the Sunday Times reports that the top-selling penthouse apartment was sold for R28 million (around $4 million).

Concerns have been raised as to whether Sandton has the necessary road and water infrastructure to sustain the massive development that is characteristic of Johannesburg in the 21st century (since the demise of Apartheid and the Group Areas Act).^{[citation needed]}

Sandton Central Management District[link]

The central business area of Sandton is divided into three City Improvement Districts, which have a unified identity called the Sandton Central Management District, branded as Sandton Central.^[14] This district is responsible, using additional funds levied on its behalf by the municipality, for the provision of additional services.^[15] The Sandton Central Management district provides additional cleaning, law enforcement, beautification and planning services to the area it services.^[16]

Transport[link]

Taxi[link]

By far the most prevalent form of public transportation in the area is provided by minibus taxis. The main taxi rank is to be found on West Street. Although not as popular an option as is the case in other major cities, metered taxis can be used to commute to and around Sandton. Cabs can be found on Maude Street near the Balalaika Hotel, on Alice Lane behind the Sandton Convention Centre and on Rivonia Road near the Southern Sun Grayston Hotel

Rail[link]

Sandton houses the flagship station of the Gautrain rapid rail link. The station is located on the corner of West Street and Rivonia Road. The system has direct connections to OR Tambo International Airport and an inter-city commuter service from Pretoria through Rosebank to Park Station, Johannesburg.

Notable persons[link]

• Prince Leka of Albania

See also[link]

South Africa portal

• Johannesburg
• Sandton City - The shopping centre that dominates the CBD of Sandton

References[link]

v t e Province of Gauteng Johannesburg (capital) Topics Climate Ecology Economy Government Politics Government Premier Legislature North Gauteng High Court South Gauteng High Court Municipalities Cities and major towns Johannesburg Soweto Pretoria Katlehong Tembisa Soshanguve Mamelodi Sebokeng Roodepoort Alexandra Orange Farm Boksburg Vosloorus Tsakane Evaton Centurion Germiston Meadowlands Randburg Daveyton Sandton Etwatwa Kempton Park Ivory Park Diepkloof Kagiso KwaThema Saulsville Benoni Alberton Krugersdorp Thokoza Springs Vanderbijlpark Vereeniging Duduza Khutsong Brakpan Bekkersdal Wattville Diepsloot Mohlakeng Randfontein Midrand Atteridgeville Sharpeville Edenvale Metropolitan municipalities Ekurhuleni Johannesburg Tshwane District and local municipalities Sedibeng Emfuleni Lesedi Midvaal West Rand Merafong City Mogale City Randfontein Westonaria

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sandton

• Sandton Central Management District
• Sandton Gautrain station

Nicole Flint

Beauty pageant titleholder
Born	Nicole Flint (1988-05-15) May 15, 1988 (age 24) Pretoria, South Africa[1]
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)[2]
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Title(s)	Miss South Africa 2009
Major competition(s)	Miss Universe 2010 (Top 10) Miss World 2010 (Top 25)

Nicole Flint (born May 15, 1988) is a South African model and public relations professional from Pretoria who was crowned Miss South Africa 2009.^[1][3][4]

Miss Universe 2010[link]

She also placed in the Top 10 at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant held on August 23, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Miss World 2010[link]

Flint placed in the top 25 in Miss World 2010, the 60th Miss World pageant, which was held on October 30, 2010.^[5][1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Nicole Flint's Online Diary
• Nicole Flint on Twitter

This South African biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This biography article about a contestant in a beauty pageant is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Julius Malema
Former president of the ANC Youth League
In office April 2008 – April 2012
Vice President	Andile Lungisa, Ronald Lamola
Preceded by	Fikile Mbalula
Personal details
Born	Julius Sello Malema (1981-03-03) 3 March 1981 (age 31) Seshego
Nationality	South African
Political party	Independent (2012–present) African National Congress (1990–2012)
Nickname(s)	Juju

Julius Sello Malema (born 3 March 1981, in Seshego) is a South African politician, and the former president of the African National Congress Youth League. Malema occupies a notably controversial position in South African public and political life; having risen to prominence with his support for African National Congress president, and later President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. He has been described by both Zuma^[1] and the Premier of Limpopo Province as the "future leader" of South Africa.^[2] Less favourable portraits paint him as a "reckless populist" with the potential to destabilise South Africa and to spark racial conflict.^[3] He was convicted of hate speech in March 2010^[4][5][6] and again in September 2011.^[7] In November 2011 he was found guilty of sowing divisions within the ANC and, in conjunction with his two-year suspended sentence in May 2010, was suspended from the party for five years.^[8]. In 2011, he was also convicted of hate speech after calling for the murder of white people. On 4 February 2012 the appeal committee of the African National Congress announced that it found no reason to “vary” a decision of the disciplinary committee taken in 2011,^[9] but did find evidence in aggravation of circumstances, leading them to impose the harsher sentence of expulsion from the ANC. On April 25 2012 Malema lost an appeal to have his expulsion from the ANC overturned, as this exhausted his final appeal, his expulsion took immediate effect.

Early life and career[link]

Malema, a Pedi, was born in Seshego. His mother was a domestic worker and a single parent.^[10][11] He joined the African National Congress's Masupatsela at the age of nine^[11] or ten.^[10] His main task was to illegally remove National Party posters.^[11]

Education[link]

Malema took longer than usual to complete secondary school, graduating at the age of 21 from Mohlakaneng High School in Seshego, Limpopo; he failed most of his subjects.^[12][13][14] In 2010, Malema completed a two-year diploma in youth development through University of South Africa (UNISA). He is currently enrolled at UNISA for a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and African languages.^[15]

Girls wear t-shirts portraying Malema at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Johannesburg 2010.

Political career[link]

Early political career[link]

Malema was elected a chairman of the Youth League branch in Seshego and the regional chairman in 1995. In 1997 he became the chairman of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) for the Limpopo province, and was elected as the national president of that organisation in 2001.^[16] In 2002, Malema led a Cosas march by school pupils, through the streets of Johannesburg that was marred by incidents of violence and looting.^[13]

Election as leader of ANC Youth League[link]

Malema was elected as the president of the ANC Youth League in April 2008.^[17] The election – and the conference – were characterised by what Malema himself later described as "unbecoming conduct".^[18] The integrity of his election has been criticised and questioned.^[19] He was later re-elected unopposed for a second term on 17 June 2011 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand when Lebogang Maile, the only opposing nomination, declined the nomination.^{[citation needed]}

April 2010 Zimbabwe visit[link]

In 3 April 2010, Malema visited Zimbabwe, in what was described as a visit on indigenisation. He was expected to meet Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe. Upon landing in Harare, Malema was greeted by Zanu-PF supporters as well as Zimbabwe's Youth and Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, and ZANU-PF Youth Chairman Absolom Sikhosana, as well as Zimbabwean business figures who had risen to prominence in recent years.^[20] Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean Prime Minister, condemned Malema's visit, after Malema criticised Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).^[21] During the visit, he described Tsvangirai as an ally of "imperialists", and called for the Zimbabwe-style seizure of mines and farms in South Africa (see below).^[22] Youth organisations in Zimbabwe criticised Malema's visit, citing his controversial racial statements and alleged corruption.^[23] Malema's comments during the visit sparked fears that South Africa would follow Zimbabwe's chaotic land reform example.^[23] Malema also blamed the MDC for introducing political violence to Zimbabwe, and defended Robert Mugabe's political and human rights record.^[24]

On Malema's return from Zimbabwe, the ANC Youth league released a statement praising Mugabe and Zimbabwe's land seizures. It also called on South Africa's youth to follow the example of young people in Zimbabwe, and to engage in agriculture in order to reduce their dependence on white farmers.^[25] Malema's support within the ANC Youth League remains strong, although no longer monolithic.

Malema's visit came while President Jacob Zuma was trying to broker a political settlement in Zimbabwe, and reportedly caused concern among ANC officials, but Zuma himself blessed the visit.^[26] The ANC, however, in a later statement distanced itself from the ANC Youth League's electoral support of ZANU-PF.^[27]

Incident involving BBC journalist[link]

On 8 April 2010, at a Johannesburg media briefing covering his visit to Zimbabwe, Malema was involved in a racial abuse incident with Jonah Fisher, a BBC journalist.^[28] Malema had been criticising the Movement for Democratic Change for having offices in affluent Sandton, when BBC journalist Jonah Fisher commented that Malema himself lived in Sandton. Malema lashed out at Fisher, after Fisher described Malema's comments as rubbish.^{[29][30][31][32][33][34]} Malema was unapologetic about his actions, and accused Fisher of being disrespectful, and of coming from a country [the UK] which undermined the credibility and integrity of African leaders.^[35] After the incident Malema said he expected an apology from Fisher^[36] However, the next day, the ANC issued a statement condemning Malema's actions during the news conference.^[27][36] On 10 April 2010, at a Durban news conference, where he characterised Malema's conduct as "alien to the ANC",^[37] President Jacob Zuma publicly criticised Malema's behaviour ^[38] saying that "the manner in which a BBC journalist was treated at an ANC Youth League press conference is regrettable and unacceptable, regardless of any alleged provocation on his part", and said that he had spoken to Malema about his conduct by telephone.^[39][40] Malema remained defiant after Zuma's rebuke.^[37]

Disciplinary procedures by ANC[link]

On 18 April 2010, it was reported that Malema faced disciplinary procedures by the ANC for bringing it and the government into disrepute.^[41][42] The charges related to his endorsement of Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party during his visit to Zimbabwe, when President Jacob Zuma was trying to broker a negotiated settlement in the country, a controversial incident involving a BBC journalist, his comments on the murder of Eugène Terre'Blanche, and unfavorably comparing Zuma to his predecessor Thabo Mbeki, after Zuma called a press conference reprimanding Malema.^[43] Julius Malema faced a "hostile" disciplinary committee on 3 May 2010.^[44]

On 11 May 2010, Malema entered into a plea bargain, and three of the charges against him were dropped (the attack on the BBC journalist, his endorsement of Mugabe, and his singing of "shoot the Boer" after it was banned). He pleaded guilty to criticising Zuma after Zuma publicly censured him, and was ordered by the disciplinary committee to make a public apology for his conduct, fined R10 000 to be donated to a youth development project, and to attend anger management classes. He was also warned of suspension from the ANC if he re-offended within two years. Malema complied, apologising "unconditionally", stating that he accepted that his "conduct and public utterances should at all times reflect respect and restraint"^{[citation needed]}.

Nationalisation and land redistribution[link]

Malema became a vocal advocate of nationalising South African mines.^[45][when?] Although the ANC, including Mining Minister Susan Shabangu, and president Jacob Zuma^[46] made it clear that this was not ANC policy,^[47] Malema continued to advocate this position. Malema's opinions on nationalisation are not shared by South Africa's large National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which stated that it is against the nationalisation of South Africa's mines^{[citation needed]}. At a public meeting at the University of Western Cape, Malema asked: "Why should we pay for our land?"^[48] He then advocated the return of land without compensation and the removal of the "willing buyer, willing seller" principle. At a June 16 Youth Day celebration, Malema accused white South Africans of "stealing land" and again advocated for the redistribution of land without compensation.^[49]

In April 2010 Malema led a youth delegation to Venezuela to study that country's nationalisation programme.^[50]

Other activities as Youth League president[link]

Malema campaigned enthusiastically for the ANC in the April 2009 elections. However, he was asked to leave Port Elizabeth's Dora Nginza Hospital after the head of the hospital noticed him and 20 other ANC members campaigning in the wards.^[51] In an apparent effort to reach the new youth, Malema also began visiting schools. These visits were criticised by Deputy President of South Africa, and of the ANC, Kgalema Motlanthe for being disruptive to education.^[52]

In early 2010, Malema urged ANC Youth League members to join the South African National Defence Force, and said that there were plans for the Youth League leadership to join the reservist programme.^[53] The military training was confirmed in May 2010, with the naval ^[54] training due to commence in September 2010.^[55]

In March 2010, in what was widely held to be a rebuke of Malema, the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) lashed out at the "new culture of public feuds, insults and personal attacks" and adopted a policy of disciplining those who became involved in public disputes with members of the governing ANC-SACP-COSATU alliance.^[56]

Malema's bid for a second term as Youth League president received a boost in 2010 when a number of Eastern Cape ANC Youth League regional conferences in the Eastern Cape elected candidates remained loyal to him,^[57] although there were some allegations of irregularities from Malema's opponents.^[58] In Malema's home province, Limpopo, a fiercely contested race for the Youth League presidency had been expected.^[36] The Limpopo meeting experienced vigorous discussion, on occasion degenerating into violence. Malema's rivals and journalists were reportedly ejected by police, at the behest of Malema.^[59][60]

Disciplinary review by ANC[link]

On Aug 30, 2011 Malema was subjected to a disciplinary hearing by the ANC. Malema's supporters held a rally in the center of Johannesburg that turned into a violent confrontation such as the country had not seen since the end of apartheid. Some of the protesters held placards with slogans like "South Africa for blacks only",^[61] that caused many disapproving reactions from the black community.

Julius Malema subsequently submitted an application to have all charges against him revoked. The ANC's National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) met on the 31st August 2011 and 1 September to deliberate on this application. The ruling was delivered at 09h00 on the 2 September 2011. The NDC dismissed Julius Malema’s application to have the charges quashed.^[62]

On 10 November 2011, ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema was found guilty of contravening Rules 25.5(c) and (i) of the ANC Constitution^[63] for expressing views at a press conference of the ANC Youth League on 31 July 2011 "which sought to portray the ANC government and its leadership under President Zuma in a negative light in relation to the African agenda and which had the potential to sow division and disunity in the ANC, and for expressing his personal views on Botswana which contravened ANC policy."^[64] He was suspended from the ANC for five years.^[8]

Convictions handed down by the National Disciplinary Committee to ANC Youth League leaders were upheld by an appeals committee on Saturday 4 February 2012. As a result ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema was stripped of his title and party membership.^[9] The NDC was instructed by the National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA) to hear evidence in mitigation and aggravation of sanction in the cases involving Sindiso Magaqa, Floyd Shivambu and Julius Malema.^[64]

On 29 February 2012, the National Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Derek Hanekom, announced the results of their review from Luthuli House. In their statement the NDC characterised the relationship between the ANC and the three respondents as "contractual in nature", bound by a "membership oath". It goes on to state that the respondents "were fully aware of the provisions of the ANC Constitution; they considered themselves bound by the ANC Constitution and they undertook to respect the ANC Constitution and its structures."^[64] The report characterised Malema as a repeat offender who was unrepentant and did not accept the findings of the disciplinary machinery of the ANC. Their conclusion in respect of Malema was:

"The NDC is of the view that if comrade Malema is not prepared to accept final decisions of the NDCA, then the likelihood of him respecting the ANC Constitution is remote." —point 74 of the report^[64]

The NDC expelled Malema from the ANC, ordered him to vacate his position as President of the ANC Youth League, but gave him leave to appeal to the NDCA against sanction within 14 days.^[64] On 24 April 2012 the appeal process ended when the NDCA confirmed his expulsion with immediate effect.^[65]

Involvement in state contracts[link]

Reports about Malema's possible involvement in state tenders (contracts)^[19] began appearing in November 2009.^[66] Questions about his personal lifestyle were raised by the South African media.^{[67][68][69][70][71][72][73]} Some analysts suggest that this is also known as being a tenderpreneur, which is the early emergence of a form of kleptocracy, or predatory behaviour by a clique in the ruling elite, to generate personal wealth by capturing resources.^[74]

In March 2010, addressing the allegations at a rally at a university campus, Malema, sang the struggle song "shoot the Boer"^[75] (see below), and lashed out at opposition politicians. He also attacked COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.^[76][77]

In August 2010, the Public Protector released a report which cleared Malema of involvement in state tenders in Limpopo. This was received with scepticism by some.^[78]

Threats to expose journalists[link]

A few weeks after the tender controversy was first reported, the ANC Youth League released the personal details of City Press Investigations Editor Dumisane Lubisi, his wife and his children, including their identity numbers, bank details, residential address and vehicle details.^[79] Lubisi had reported on the poor construction quality of the Limpopo projects carried out by Malema's firms.^[80][81] The ANCYL made claims that it had evidence that journalists were corrupt in several respects.^[82][83]

In response, a large group of political journalists complained ^[84] to various authorities within the ANC and to the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) stating that they viewed the release as an attempt to intimidate them into not publishing further stories, and as a threat to media freedom. They further questioned how a political organisation obtained sensitive personal information without breaking the law.^[85][86] The Sowetan newspaper, in an editorial, called the steps to silence journalists "tyrannical", and accused the ANC Youth league of exploiting its closeness to "state and institutional power", to intimidate journalists who wrote about Malema.^[87] SANEF also released a statement supporting the journalists.^[88]

Malema then issued a statement that the ANCYL would continue to expose journalists.^[89]

Investigation by the Hawks[link]

When he was overseas at a friend's wedding in Mauritius at the end of October 2011, it was reported^{[citation needed]} in various South African media that Malema faced various charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering – these charges having been brought forward by the Special Investigative Unit, the Hawks.^{[citation needed]} At the core of the allegations is the Ratanang Trust, a trust ostensibly set up by Malema and named for his son – with his son and grandmother listed as beneficiaries – but allegedly is the focal point for payments made by politically-connected businessmen in return for lucrative state tenders, mostly in the impoverished Limpopo region.

Malema has since denied all wrong-doing, while various investigations continue.^{[citation needed]}

Hate speech convictions[link]

March 2010 hate speech conviction[link]

On March 15, 2010 Malema was convicted of hate speech by the Equality Court, fined R50 000 and ordered to apologise unconditionally,^[4][5][6] following a 2009 incident when he told a group of Cape Town students at a South African Students' Congress (SASCO) meeting that the woman who accused ANC president Jacob Zuma of rape had a "nice time" with him because in the morning she had "requested breakfast and taxi money"^[90] Following the conviction SASCO expressed "delight" at the ruling and attacked Malema for the "gratuitous abuse" of the platform that SASCO granted him ^[91]

"Shoot the Boer" song[link]

In March 2010, at a rally on a university campus Malema sang the lyrics "shoot the Boer" (Dubul' ibhunu^[92]) from the anti-apartheid song Ayasab' amagwala (the cowards are scared)^[93] ("Boer" is the Afrikaans word for "farmer", but is also used as a derogatory term for any white person^[94][95]). His singing was compared to similar chants by deceased Youth League leader Peter Mokaba in the early 1990s, to "kill the boer",^[93] which had previously been defined as hate speech by the South African Human Rights Commission.^[96]

Malema's singing of the song led to a barrage of complaints against him, both to the police, and to the commission.^[96][97]

The ANC said "We wouldn't appreciate any statements against any member of our society, including whites... they are also South Africans", however, it "had not taken a decision in the matter".^[98]

The Southern Gauteng High Court ruled on 26 March 2010 that Malema's song (which he had continued singing at public gatherings ^[99]) was "unconstitutional and unlawful", and that any person singing it could face charges of incitement to murder, stating that the song called for the killing of the "farmer/white man", however, the ANC defended the song.^[100] The ANC announced it would appeal the ruling. The Northern Gauteng High Court, on 1 April 2010 then granted an interdict preventing Malema from publicly uttering the words of this or any other song which could be considered to be instigating violence, distrust and/or hatred between black and white citizens in the Republic of South Africa" until the matter was heard by the Equality Court, to which the case was referred by the presiding judge.^[101][102]

In the aftermath of Eugène Terre'Blanche's April 2010 murder, senior leaders of the ANC temporarily banned the singing of the song, amid concerns that struggle songs were being used to "scapegoat" the ANC and to further racial hatred, and because of concerns that ANC leaders who continued singing the songs may have been in contempt of the court orders banning the singing of the song.

President Jacob Zuma, at a 10 April 2010 news conference said Malema was "totally out of order" for ignoring ANC instructions to obey the court order banning the singing the song. Zuma emphasised the constitutional role of the judiciary and the rule of law, and also said that the role of the judiciary "as the final arbiter in disputes" had to be respected, and that defiance of the proper procedures in place to challenge judicial rulings, made a "mockery of the judicial system" and "should not be tolerated".^[38][40]

Hate speech trial and conviction[link]

In April 2011 Afriforum brought a case of hate speech against Malema in regard to the song and several notable ANC figures such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and secretary-general Gwede Mantashe threw their weight behind him in the court battle. Aggressive and patronizing questioning of black witnesses by lawyers for the Afrikaner groups bringing the suit reportedly allowed Malema to portray himself a victim of Afrikaner persecution.^[103]

On 12 September 2011, Malema was found guilty of hate speech.^[7][104]

Depiction in mainstream media[link]

Malema is known for his controversial statements and has become a frequent target for lampooning. Initially, Cartoonists Zapiro and Jeremy Nell frequently drew him dressed in nappies.^[105][106] Some analysts depict him as an orator, with a broad appeal in the young, poor, and disadvantaged black electorate.^[107] More recently, as Malema's public profile has grown, he has been described by critics in the media as a "demagogue".^[108] He was listed in Time (magazine)'s Least Influential People of 2010,^[109] whereas conversely Forbes Magazine named him as one of the "10 Youngest Power Men In Africa" in September 2011.^[110]

External links[link]

• Max du Preez: The man is a bully
• Third Degree special on Malema
• Julius Malema – An unlikely leader
• Carte Blanche on Malema

References[link]

Marco Polo
Portrait of Marco Polo[Note 1]
Born	c. 1254 presumably in Venice, Italy
Died	January 9, 1324(1324-01-09) (aged 69) Venice, Venetian Republic
Resting place	Church of San Lorenzo 45°15′41″N 12°12′15″E / 45.2613°N 12.2043°E / 45.2613; 12.2043
Occupation	Merchant, Explorer
Known for	The Travels of Marco Polo
Spouse	Donata Badoer
Children	Fantina, Bellela, and Moretta
Parents	Mother: Unknown Father: Niccolò Polo

Marco Polo (ⁱ/ˈmɑrkoʊ ˈpoʊloʊ/; Italian pronunciation: [ˈmarko ˈpɔːlo]; c. 1254 – January 9, 1324)^[1] was a Venetian merchant traveler^[2][3] from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, returning after 24 years to find Venice at war with Genoa; Marco was imprisoned, and dictated his stories to a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married and had three children. He died in 1324, and was buried in San Lorenzo.

Their pioneering journey inspired Christopher Columbus^[4] and others. Marco Polo's other legacies include Venice Marco Polo Airport, the Marco Polo sheep, and several books and films. He also had an influence on European cartography, leading to the introduction of the Fra Mauro map.

Life[link]

Early life and Asian travel[link]

The exact time and place of Marco Polo's birth are unknown, and current theories are mostly conjectural. One possible place of birth is Venice's former contrada of San Giovanni Crisostomo, which is sometimes presented by historians as the birthplace, and it is generally accepted that Marco Polo was born in the Venetian Republic with most biographers pointing towards Venice itself as Marco Polo's home town.^[5] Some biographers suggest that Polo was born in the town of Korčula (Curzola), on the island of Korčula in today's Croatia, however there is no proof to this claim.^[6][7] The most quoted specific date of Polo's birth is somewhere "around 1254".^{[Note 2]} His father Niccolò was a merchant who traded with the Middle East, becoming wealthy and achieving great prestige.^[8][9] Niccolò and his brother Maffeo set off on a trading voyage, before Marco was born.^[9] In 1260, Niccolò and Maffeo were residing in Constantinople when they foresaw a political change; they liquidated their assets into jewels and moved away.^[8] According to The Travels of Marco Polo, they passed through much of Asia, and met with the Kublai Khan.^[10] Meanwhile, Marco Polo's mother died, and he was raised by an aunt and uncle.^[9] Polo was well educated, and learned merchant subjects including foreign currency, appraising, and the handling of cargo ships,^[9] although he learned little or no Latin.^[8]

Map of the journey

In 1269, Niccolò and Maffeo returned to Venice, meeting Marco for the first time. In 1271, Marco Polo (at seventeen years of age), his father, and his uncle set off for Asia on the series of adventures that were later documented in Marco's book. They returned to Venice in 1295, 24 years later, with many riches and treasures. They had traveled almost 15,000 miles (24,000 km).^[9]

Genoese captivity and later life[link]

Upon the Polos' return to Italy, Venice was at war with Genoa.^[11] Genoese admiral Lamba D'Oria overwhelmed a Venetian fleet at the Battle of Curzola near the island of Korčula, and Polo was taken prisoner.^[11] He spent several months of his imprisonment dictating a detailed account of his travels to a fellow inmate, Rustichello da Pisa,^[9] who incorporated tales of his own as well as other collected anecdotes and current affairs from China. The book soon spread throughout Europe in manuscript form, and became known as The Travels of Marco Polo. It depicts the Polos' journeys throughout Asia, giving Europeans their first comprehensive look into the inner workings of the Far East, including China, India, and Japan.^[12]

While Polo's book describes paper money and the burning of coal, it fails to mention the Great Wall of China, chopsticks, and footbinding, making skeptics wonder if Marco Polo had really gone to China, or wrote his book based on hearsay.^[13] Yet, if the purpose of Polo's tales was to impress others with tales of his high esteem and fond regard in an advanced civilization, then the shrewd thing for Polo to do would be to omit those details that would cause his listeners to scoff at the Chinese with a sense of European superiority. Furthermore, researchers note that the Great Wall familiar to us today is a Ming structure, post-dating Marco Polo's travels by more than two centuries. The Yuan rulers whom Polo served, as well as the preceding Jin and Liao Empires controlled territories both north and south of the today's wall, and would have no reasons to maintain any fortifications that may have remained there from the earlier dynasties.^[14] Other Europeans who traveled to Khanbaliq during the Yuan Dynasty, such as Giovanni de' Marignolli and Odoric of Pordenone, said nothing about the wall either.^[14] Finally, the hearsay theory does not explain the absence of chop stick or foot binding reports. University of Tübingen researcher Hans Ulrich Vogel stated that Polo's description of paper money and salt production supported his presence in China.^[15]

Polo was finally released from captivity in August 1299,^[9] and returned home to Venice, where his father and uncle had purchased a large house in the central quarter named contrada San Giovanni Crisostomo. The company continued its activities and Marco soon became a wealthy merchant. Polo financed other expeditions, but never left Venice again. In 1300, he married Donata Badoer, the daughter of Vitale Badoer, a merchant.^[16] They had three daughters, called Fantina, Bellela and Moreta.^[17]

Death[link]

San Lorenzo di Venezia church in the sestiere of Castello of Venice, where Polo was buried. The photo was taken after the church was rebuilt.

In 1323, Polo was confined to bed, due to illness. On January 8, 1324, despite physicians' efforts to treat him, Polo was on his deathbed. To write and certify the will, his family requested Giovanni Giustiniani, a priest of San Procolo. His wife, Donata, and his three daughters were appointed by him as co-executrices. The church was entitled by law to a portion of his estate; he approved of this and ordered that a further sum be paid to the convent of San Lorenzo, the place where he wished to be buried.^[1] He also set free a "Tartar slave" who may have accompanied him from Asia.^[18]

He divided up the rest of his assets, including several properties, between individuals, religious institutions, and every guild and fraternity to which he belonged. He also wrote-off multiple debts including 300 lire that his sister-in-law owed him, and others for the convent of San Giovanni, San Paolo of the Order of Preachers, and a cleric named Friar Benvenuto. He ordered 220 soldi be paid to Giovanni Giustiniani for his work as a notary and his prayers.^[1] The will, which was not signed by Polo, but was validated by then relevant "signum manus" rule, by which the testator only had to touch the document to make it abide to the rule of law,^[19] was dated January 9, 1324. Due to the Venetian law stating that the day ends at sunset, the exact date of Marco Polo's death cannot be determined, but it was between the sunsets of January 8 and 9, 1324.^[1]

Travels of Marco Polo[link]

A miniature from Il Milione.

An authoritative version of Marco Polo's book does not exist, and the early manuscripts differ significantly. The published versions of his book either rely on single scripts, blend multiple versions together or add notes to clarify, for example in the English translation by Henry Yule. Another English translation by A.C. Moule and Paul Pelliot, published in 1938, is based on the Latin manuscript which was found in the library of the Cathedral of Toledo in 1932, and is 50% longer than other versions.^[20] Approximately 150 variants in various languages are known to exist, and without the availability of a printing press many errors were made during copying and translation, resulting in many discrepancies.^[21] Polo related his memoirs to Rustichello da Pisa while both were prisoners of the Genova Republic. Rustichello wrote The Devisament du Monde in Langues d'Oil, a lingua franca of crusaders and western merchants in the orient.^[22] The idea probably was to create a handbook for merchants, essentially a text on weights, measures and distances.^[23]

Narrative[link]

A page from Il Milione, from a manuscript believed to date between 1298–1299.

The book starts with a preface about his father and uncle traveling to Bolghar where Prince Berke Khan lived. A year later, they went to Ukek^[24] and continued to Bukhara. There, an envoy from Levant invited them to meet Kublai Khan, who had never met Europeans.^[25] In 1266, they reached the seat of the Kublai Khan at Dadu, present day Beijing, China. Khan received the brothers with hospitality and asked them many questions regarding the European legal and political system.^[26] He also inquired about the Pope and Church in Rome.^[27] After the brothers answered the questions he tasked them with delivering a letter to the Pope, requesting 100 Christians acquainted with the Seven Arts (grammar, rhetoric, logic, geometry, arithmetic, music and astronomy). Kublai Khan requested that an envoy bring him back oil of the lamp in Jerusalem.^[28] The long sede vacante between the death of Pope Clement IV in 1268 and the election of his successor delayed the Polos in fulfilling Khan's request. They followed the suggestion of Theobald Visconti, then papal legate for the realm of Egypt, and returned to Venice in 1269 or 1270 to await the nomination of the new Pope, which allowed Marco to see his father for the first time, at the age of fifteen or sixteen.^[29]

Polo wearing a Tartar outfit, age of print unknown.

In 1271, Niccolò, Maffeo and Marco Polo embarked on their voyage to fulfill Khan's request. They sailed to Acre, and then rode on camels to the Persian port of Hormuz. They wanted to sail to China, but the ships there were not seaworthy, so they continued overland until reaching Khan's summer palace in Shangdu, near present-day Zhangjiakou. Three and a half years after leaving Venice, when Marco was about 21 years old, Khan welcomed the Polos into his palace.^[9] The exact date of their arrival is unknown, but scholars estimate it to be between 1271 and 1275.^{[Note 3]} On reaching the Yuan court, the Polos presented the sacred oil from Jerusalem and the papal letters to their patron.^[8]

Marco knew four languages, and the family had accumulated a great deal of knowledge and experience that was useful to Khan. It is possible that he became a government official;^[9] he wrote about many imperial visits to China's southern and eastern provinces, the far south and Burma.^[30]

Kublai Khan declined the Polos' requests to leave China. They became worried about returning home safely, believing that if Khan died, his enemies might turn against them because of their close involvement with the ruler. In 1292, Khan's great-nephew, then ruler of Persia, sent representatives to China in search of a potential wife, and they asked the Polos to accompany them, so they were permitted to return to Persia with the wedding party – which left that same year from Zaitun in southern China on a fleet of 14 junks. The party sailed to the port of Singapore, travelled north to Sumatra, sailed west to the Trincomalee port of Jaffna under Savakanmaindan and to Pandyan of Tamilakkam. Describing the Pandyan kingdom under Lord Emperor Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I as the richest empire in existence, Polo arrived during the reign of Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I, son of Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I and one of five brother kings on the continent.^[31] Eventually Polo crossed the Arabian Sea to Hormuz. The two-years voyage was a perilous one – of the six hundred people (not including the crew) in the convoy only eighteen had survived (including all three Polos).^[32] The Polos left the wedding party after reaching Hormuz and travelled overland to the port of Trebizond on the Black Sea, the present day Trabzon.^[9]

Legacy[link]

Further exploration[link]

Handwritten notes by Christopher Columbus on a Latin edition of Polo's book.