Malema affirms support for President Zuma

Speaking at the opening of the Youth League's elective conference, where he is set to sail into a second term as president of the most powerful bloc within the ANC, Malema accused the media of fabricating a rift between him and Zuma.

"Sitting here are your protectors. These are the people who delivered you to the Union Buildings (the official seat of the government) and we will forever protect you," Malema told Zuma, who was at the event. "You have no reason to doubt us." But ANC insiders said despite his comments, Malema is at odds with Zuma, who has dismissed the league's drives to nationalise mines in the world's biggest platinum producer and seize white-owned farms.