The ANC’s top six officials met well into Monday evening amid reports that ANC Youth League President Julius Malema would face disciplinary charges.
ANC spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi was tight lipped on the outcome of the meeting, saying a media briefing would be held on Tuesday.
An advisory issued ahead of the media briefing said the youth league was welcome to attend.
Luthuli House in the Johannesburg CBD was abuzz with activity on Monday evening with its entrance on President Street cordoned off and a host of official vehicles outside.
Mnisi earlier confirmed that the ANCYL matter was on the agenda at the meeting. The league said its national working committee was in a meeting with the ruling party’s top brass.
Reports of censure
Sunday papers reported that Malema had been charged for alleged ill-discipline and bringing the organisation into disrepute.
The censure comes after President Jacob Zuma publicly chastised the youth league president, saying his statements were alien to the culture of the ANC.
Malema was to appear before a disciplinary committee headed by Derek Hanekom, reported the Sunday Times and City Press.
Malema apparently received a letter from ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe to inform him of the charges.
The youth leader is said to be accused of bringing the ANC and the government into disrepute by publicly endorsing Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party and attacking the opposition Movement for Democratic Change during a recent visit to that country.
He also faced charges for saying, after Eugene Terre’Blanche’s murder, that the right-wing leader died before changing his racist behaviour, and for his aggressive behaviour towards BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, calling him a “bastard” and “bloody agent”.
According to the charges, Malema brought the ANC into disrepute, and violated the moral integrity expected of members or public representatives of the organisation.
According to the Sunday Times, charges against him included promoting racism, sexism, tribal chauvinism, and religious and political intolerance. – Sapa