The African National Congress (ANC) has bemoaned what it described as attempts to divide party leaders with regard to last week’s suspension of ANC youth league leaders.
“We view this as a malicious and divisive way of projecting the ANC’s national leadership,” ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in a statement on Monday.
“We again want to remind sections of the media that have made such statements that the ANC is led by President [Jacob] Zuma.”
Last week, youth league president Julius Malema was suspended for five years and removed as president of the league after being found guilty of provoking divisions in the ANC and bringing the organisation into disrepute.
‘Hearsay’
Malema said he would appeal his five-year suspension.
During Malema’s hearing, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and ANC veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela testified in his defence.
According to reports on Sunday, the ANC’s national disciplinary committee had slammed the testimony given by Sexwale.
The full ruling reportedly obtained by City Press, criticised Sexwale for “unsubstantiated statements” and relying on “hearsay” for much of his evidence.
According to the ruling, he also showed a lack of knowledge of the ANC constitution, the newspaper reported.
‘Media vilification’
Mthembu said on Monday, “The ANC rejects what has been written about comrade Tokyo Sexwale, in one of the weekend newspapers.
“As far as we are concerned there is only one report in our possession and it does not contain what has been reported about comrade Tokyo.”
Mthembu said Sexwale remained a respected ANC leader and no amount of “media vilification” would change that.
The outcome of the disciplinary hearings was respected and accepted by the ANC leadership, said Mthembu.
Anger
The ANC also issue with a news report that its chairperson Baleka Mbete has been slated for giving details about the cost of its centenary celebrations.
“We don’t even know what inspired such reporting. When our leaders have spoken, they have spoken and it’s not up to members to be angry,” Mthembu said.
He said the party would insist on a correction by the City Press, the newspaper concerned. Should it refuse to do so, the matter would be taken up with the press ombudsman.
City Press reported on Sunday that Mbete had come under fire after revealing that more than R100-million would be spent the ANC’s centenary celebrations.
She is in charge of the ANC’s centenary committee.
Phosa furious
ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa was said to have been furious when he heard that Mbete had mentioned the R100-million figure, the newspaper reported.
City Press editor Ferial Haffajee said on Monday that the newspaper would not publish a correction.
“I am confident to defend the story at the press ombudsman,” she said.
Haffajee said the interview was done on the record and that other sources “close to the action” had confirmed the report.
“I’m sorry they’re upset because it was an innocuous story,” she said. — Sapa
Follow the Mail & Guardian‘s coverage of the ANC’s 100th anniversary.
