ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe launched a veiled attack on Julius Malema on Tuesday ahead of the ANC Youth League president’s appearance before a disciplinary committee next week.
At a press briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg following the ANC’s special national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the weekend, Mantashe denounced the discipline problems besetting the party.
“The NEC decried the crumbling of discipline in the ANC and it has emerged as a serious concern. Our failure to act on these issues will lose us the respect we enjoy in South Africa, the continent and the world,” Mantashe said.
Malema, along with his spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, is due to appear before a party disciplinary hearing next week after being charged with misconduct last Friday for comments made on working towards regime change in Botswana.
If found guilty, Malema faces being suspended from the party for up to five years, as he already has a suspended sentence against him following sanction last year.
Mantashe’s comments should come as no surprise as the youth league has been pushing for his ouster — along with President Jacob Zuma — at the ANC’s next elective conference in Mangaung at the end of 2012.
Duty to act against corruption
Mantashe revealed that the NEC decided in its meeting to tackle unlawful business dealings within the ANC, saying it is part of their mandate as the ruling party to stamp out corruption.
“It is our revolutionary duty to act against corruption and deal with it decisively — we can’t be seen to be weak,” Mantashe said.
This has been interpreted as a further stab at Malema, who is facing a flurry of investigations into his business dealings, with specific reference to the Ratanang trust registered in his name.
The youth leader claims the trust is used to raise funds for charitable causes but is currently being probed by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela as well as the Hawks on allegations that he receives money through the trust for securing tenders in Limpopo.
No time for succession
Mantashe also attempted once more to quash the debate over who should lead the ANC after Mangaung, saying the discussion would commence at branch level once party leaders have given the process the green light.
“The branches will have the opportunity to nominate their preferred candidates at an appropriate time [which] will be decided in due course,” Mantashe said.
While not confirming disciplinary action would be taken against anybody discussing succession before the ANC officially declares it is safe to do so, Mantashe said debating the issue is a violation of the party’s constitution.
“The fact [that] we have to remind everyone is [due to] the temptation for members to jump the gun. We won’t discuss leadership issues now and it would be deviant to do so,” he said.
This is a further swipe at Malema, who has been not only calling for Mantashe’s head, but also began rallying support for Zuma to be replaced by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in Mangaung next year.
Staying mum until Judgment Day
When quizzed by journalists about the specifics of the charges against Malema and the forthcoming disciplinary committee hearing, Mantashe would not be drawn into commenting, saying that doing so would prejudice the case.
“The ANC will not comment on disciplinary procedures, so don’t try to trick us into doing so,” he said.
Indications are that Malema will face a tough time in staving off disciplinary action, after the Mail & Guardian heard from party insiders that the youth league leader’s support within the ANC is waning.
The youth league is seeking a meeting with their mother body ahead of the scheduled hearing against their leader in the hopes that a political solution might be found to the situation.
If this does not result in a positive outcome from the league, ordinary youth league members confirmed to the M&G that a march is planned to ANC headquarters on the day of the hearing in a show of support of Malema.
Mantashe confirmed the request of a meeting but would not comment on the possibility of it leading to the situation being defused before the hearing.
“The process must be allowed to unfold and we will deal with any adventurous actions should they happen,” he said.