For or against Juju? Young lions lose either way

Those seeking to exploit the possible suspension of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema were immature, the South African Colleges Student Association (Sacsa) said on Wednesday.

“The Sacsa is disgraced by the ill-discipline of some members of the African National Congress Youth League,” the association’s president Itumeleng Madisha said in a statement.

It said those against Malema’s suspension were concerned only about losing government tenders, special benefits and resources.

Those pretending to respect the ANC’s decision to suspend Malema were vying for his and his colleagues’ positions, it added.

The ANC’s disciplinary committee of appeals has dismissed appeals by Malema, his spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, and four other league officials against their conviction on various charges related to ill-discipline.

The four others are deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi.

They were given two weeks to prepare arguments in mitigation of their suspensions.

Sacsa said: “It is very immature and political suicide for comrades to undermine the position of the organisation for individual reasons.”—Sapa