Malema hearing to be moved from Luthuli House

ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema’s disciplinary hearing will be moved to an undisclosed location, the ANC confirmed on Tuesday.

The ANC’s national disciplinary committee chairperson Derek Hanekom said the decision was made in the wake of demonstrations held outside Luthuli House last Tuesday when the hearing commenced.

Malema’s calming influence

During his disciplinary hearing, Julius Malema’s supporters ran riot outside at Luthuli House. But as soon as he began speaking to them afterwards, the young lions became as meek as lambs.

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“In coming up with the decision, the NDC has also considered many factors, including the pending legal action against the ANC’s continued holding of the disciplinary hearing at Chief Albert Luthuli House, despite adverse implications on businesses in the Johannesburg CBD,” he said.

After violent clashes between Malema supporters and police on Tuesday last week, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told reporters the disciplinary hearing would be moved out of the city, but this statement was withdrawn on Wednesday morning, when ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu announced it would stay at Luthuli House, pending further violence.

Last week streets around Luthuli House were closed as hundreds of Malema supporters burnt T-shirts bearing the face of President Jacob Zuma and attacked police and journalists.

“We can’t comment on the location of the hearing but the people involved will know and there is no need to disclose this to the media or any other parties,” Mthembu told the Mail & Guardian.

The youth league has remained mum on the decision, saying it has yet to be officially informed.

“We don’t know about that just yet but we will respect any decision made by the ANC,” the youth league’s secretary general, Sindiso Magaqa, told the M&G.

The ANC was conducting disciplinary hearings after it charged the leaders of its youth wing with various violations of the party’s constitution. Malema and league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu face charges related to comments on helping bring about regime change in Botswana.

Marching for Malema

Hundreds of Julius Malema supporters gathered in the streets of Johannesburg as Juju faced the first day of his disciplinary hearing. Journalists and police were pelted with rocks and other debris, and T-shirts bearing Jacob Zuma’s face were burnt.

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Deputy president Ronald Lamola, Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi, and treasurer general Pule Mabe have been charged with contravening rule 25.5 (q) and rule 25.5(o) of the constitution of the ANC.

The latter rule relates to “prejudicing the integrity or repute of the organisation, its personnel or its operational capacity”.

The former relates to “deliberately disrupting meetings and interfering with the orderly functioning of the organisation”.

The hearing resumes on Sunday. — Sapa

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