Yoo hoo, Jonathan! Where are you?

Two weeks ago we gleefully reported on the debut of Grade 11 Johannesburger, Jonathan Ovadia, who was introduced as protégé to troubled ANCYL head, Julius Malema, who was himself summarily suspended from the ANC soon afterwards.

Ovadia was ostensibly taken under Malema’s wing so that JuJu could mentor him in “radical politics”, demonstrating that he could indeed work with white people, and still maintain his relatively extreme stances in terms of the redistribution of wealth and the country’s resources.

But who is this kid? Practically nothing was known about the young King David Victory Park High School student, other than some kerfuffle on his Facebook page about an anti-Malema Facebook group that disappeared the moment the scrutiny was on him.

While his mentor lip sync’s for his political life, the press hasn’t wasted time letting a golden media egg like Jonathan get away without a little time in the frying pan. Given the lack of statement from Sith Lord and apprentice on their political relationship, the journalists stopped by Ovadia’s school for some soundbites around the tuck shop.

Ovadia is described by classmates as someone who seems to be conservative in his political views and who mixes with friends with a similar outlook on life. At least three classmates expressed surprise that Ovadia would want to be Malema’s right-hand man, although he is known by some of his friends to be very supportive of the suspended-again youth league president whom he “defends vehemently”.

Someone at the school said it’s likely that Ovadia chose to shadow Malema for a project every pupil in the class had to do.

2oceansVibe managed to obtain screenshots of Ovadia’s Facebook page before it got spring cleaned. Someone needs to pay more attention in PR 101.

As for Ovadia himself, pesky reporters on the lawn brought about a response, if not a very canny one. A vehement SMS threatening legal action should his young name be besmirched before his lawyer can tell him how to handle this hot mess was issued after efforts to get a statement by phone failed.

Prior to you writing any story in any way affiliated to my self, please be aware that I have sought legal advise (sic) and have been made aware that any article that may affect my reputation negatively will be the subject of a defamation claim and I will Pursue (sic) same vigilantly against both the writer and the publisher. Please note further that any statements taken from my so-called school mates is hearsay and further subject to a similar claim. I will release a statement when I am ready.

Well well. Has the falcon escaped the falconer? Malema hasn’t made another comment about Ovadia’s presence on that stage, or in his political circles, nor has he commented on the “1 000 000 against Julius Malema” Facebook snafu on his mentee’s profile mere hours after Ovadia made his debut.

According to press at Wits that day,

Ovadia left the hall soon after he was called on stage by Malema, and he appeared a little uncertain of how to act as television cameras and photographers focused on him in the minute or two he was in the spotlight. He refused to talk to the media then, and he still does so now – much like his mentor.

Given Julius Malema’s political troubles, it’s difficult to speculate what role a Grade 11 school pupil with opaque political affiliations will play in his return to notoriety, not to mention the ANCYL. Hopefully, taking on legal representation will allow the teenager to get his house in order, not to mention his Facebook profile, prior to future engagements with either his political tutor, or the press. Your move, kiddo.

[Source: News 24]