Julius Malema’s lawyer is to ask for a postponement in the ANC Youth League leader’s disciplinary hearing after he was admitted to hospital, but the party is eager to conclude the case this week.
On Wednesday night, Malema was in a stable condition after being admitted to a private hospital in Polokwane earlier in the day, the league said.
“The ANCYL are assured that president Julius Malema is in a stable condition,” it said in a statement.
The league said a doctor requested Malema to stay in the hospital for observation until he was in full health.
“The reasons for the hospitalisation are not major. He will be discharged soon.”
It declined to give more details on his condition, saying Malema’s health was a private matter.
“Members of the media are therefore humbly requested to not make enquiries concerning this, nor pry into the privacy of the president’s health, because doing so is unethical, immoral and despicable.”
The South African Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier that Malema was suffering from “flu symptoms” and would not attend his African National Congress disciplinary hearing in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Postponement bid
Malema’s lawyer Dali Mpofu said he would ask for a postponement of the hearing on Thursday.
‘We will ask for the postponement at 9am. I am going to the venue of the hearing now,” Malema’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu said on Thursday morning.
“I think they will postpone it because he is in hospital and it cannot continue without him.”
Mpofu said he did not have more details.
Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday that Malema was already sick when he made a speech at the University of Limpopo on Tuesday.
He told the audience that he had wanted to cancel because he was sick but he knew it would result in “conspiracy theories” about why he did not attend.
Beeld said he spoke in a hoarse voice during his speech, which nearly lasted an hour.
The Afrikaans daily quoted an unnamed source as saying that he had X-rays taken of his chest at hospital.
No unnecessary delays
National disciplinary committee chair Derek Hanekom said the committee was keen to conclude the hearing as soon as possible.
“We don’t want unnecessary delays, but at the same time we want a fair process throughout,” he said.
“We will meet tomorrow with Malema’s representatives and hopefully we will get information on Malema’s state of health and when he is expected to be discharged… you know he might be serious. Normally one is not admitted into hospital with a mere cold.”
Hanekom said it was the right of Malema’s team to make an application for a postponement, but that it would have to be on “good grounds”.
“I cannot comment on hearsay or make judgements on rumours. We will deal with the facts once it’s in front of us.”
Malema faces charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing division within party ranks.
He recently said the youth league would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change.
Charged with him are league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi. — Sapa