The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) has found “no evidence” that the police took instructions from African National Congress (ANCYL) Youth League president Julius Malema at a league conference in Makhado in Limpopo last year.
“Upon thorough analysis of all the information available to it, the ICD could not find evidence to support the allegation that the police acted on Mr Malema’s instructions,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
The ICD investigation followed a complaint lodged by Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard in July last year.
The ICD is a civilian oversight body established to investigate complaints of criminality and misconduct against members of the South African Police Service and the municipal police.
It said the investigation had focused on the conduct of the police as it did not have the legal mandate to investigate civilians.
The investigation obtained and reviewed the statements of police posted at the conference, video footage and a statement submitted by the ANCYL.
Forcibly removed
Delegates forcibly removed from the ANCYL conference held in Makhado in April accused Malema of orchestrating their removal to ensure that his preferred candidates were elected.
“He instructed police to take us out from the conference yesterday. We are going home because we are tired of the agendas of Malema,” a delegate told the South African Broadcasting Corporation at the time.
“We are tired of the dictatorship of Malema,” he said.
The delegates refused to recognise the newly elected chairperson, Frans Moswane. — Sapa