ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has been admitted to Limpopo Medi Clinic in Polokwane.
He was suffering from “flu symptoms”, the South African Broadcast Corporation reported on Wednesday.
The hospital has confirmed to the Mail & Guardian that he was admitted, but has refused to comment further.
Malema briefed his lawyers and said he would not be attending his African National Congress disciplinary hearing in Johannesburg on Thursday.
It is not yet clear if the disciplinary hearing will be going ahead.
Malema’s lawyer Patrick Mtshaulana told the M&G that he “had not been told that the disciplinary hearing was not going ahead”, and is still planning to attend the hearing.
The ANC Keith Khoza said they will still confirming Malema’s illness and would comment further in due course.
Malema, league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi face several charges. These were brought after comments the ANCYL would help bring about regime change in Botswana.
They apologised to the ANC for the statement and withdrew their statement. The six were also accused of sowing divisions within the ranks of the ANC.
Implications
Malema, named by Forbes magazine as one of the most powerful men in Africa, faces suspension or expulsion from the ANC if found guilty of a number of charges including bringing the ruling party into disrepute.
Malema has rattled investors with his calls to nationalise mines and his declaration of “economic war” on the white minority.
The ANC disciplinary committee hearing is a high stakes gamble for Malema, who could see his political career derailed, as well as for President Jacob Zuma, who could face trouble if his adversary and party power-broker Malema is exonerated.
Malema, whose populist policies resonate with the poor black majority, once said he would “kill” for Zuma.
But he now seems intent on ousting him in favour of ANC stalwarts who will support his drastic economic vision for South Africa that includes seizing white-owned farmland.
Malema is facing a separate police investigation into his finances including a suspected slush fund he uses to pay for a lavish lifestyle.
Losing support?
The M&G reported in September that moves were being made to undermine Malema’s support in the provinces. It is a back-up plan to weaken him should he survive the disciplinary hearing, say ANC insiders.
The M&G learnt from ANC national executive committee (NEC) members and from provincial leaders of the ANC and the youth league in Limpopo and North West that a rebellion is brewing against Malema.
Strategies to weaken Malema include: disciplining his supporters over the violent protest in support of him in Johannesburg; using his own allies, who are known to have ambitions regarding the leadership of the youth league, to neutralise him; and persuading rank-and-file supporters to jump ship before Malema takes them down.
In addition, the youth league then claimed that its members were being interrogated by unknown people calling themselves intelligence operatives.
At least four of the league’s NEC members were said to be prepared to “stab him in the back” should the opportunity arise. Their names are known to the M&G and two of the four are prominent Malema allies.
A government official closely linked to the Malema-led campaign to install Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula as the ANC’s next secretary general said that Malema’s allies, who are suspected of lobbying against him in the tense youth league leadership race in June, are being watched closely.
“You have these people who are closer to the president but are not necessarily Julius’s people; they are their own people,” said the official. “They see themselves as senior to many people in the league and want to lead.” — Sapa, Reuters, M&G reporters