/ 10 November 2011

Time’s up: Young Lions’ leaders to learn their fates

Time's Up: Young Lions' Leaders To Learn Their Fates

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, spokeperson Floyd Shivambu and four other leaders will know the verdict on their disciplinary hearing on Thursday morning.

Charged with Malema and Shivambu were league deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi.

The group, excluding Malema, will meet with the ruling party’s disciplinary committee at the party’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg.

On Wednesday, the youth league said Malema would be absent when the verdict was announced, because he was in Polokwane writing exams.

Closing arguments in the hearing ended late on Sunday night and the disciplinary committee took the next three days to deliberate.

Out in force
A huge metro police contingent was deployed outside Luthuli House in central Johannesburg on Thursday morning, ahead the announcement of the hearing’s decision.

President and Sauer streets were closed for security reasons by 7am, said Johannesburg metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

“Our officers have been deployed to monitor the situation around Luthuli House,” said Minnaar.

“They will be there for the rest of the day,” he said.

Should Malema be found guilty, he would reportedly continue in his position until sentencing, after which he would have 14 days to appeal.

Malema’s first appearance before the ANC disciplinary committee took place at Luthuli House at the end of August. It was moved after violence erupted in the Johannesburg CBD.

The ANC has charged Malema with bringing the party into disrepute and sowing division within party ranks.

Earlier this year, he said the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change in that country. Malema subsequently apologised for the remarks.

Substance of the matter
The charges relate to a a claim by Malema earlier this year that the league would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change.

Malema subsequently apologised for the remarks.

Also charged are ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi.

Malema’s first appearance before the committee took place at Luthuli House in September, but the venue was changed after violence erupted on the streets surrounding the ANC’s headquarters.

Youth league members and supporters threw rocks, bottles and bricks at journalists and police, and burnt ANC flags and T-shirts bearing the image of President Jacob Zuma.

History of discipline
This is not Malema’s first time in front of the ANC’s disciplinary committee. In May last year, he was hauled over the coals for accusing President Jacob Zuma of being worse than former president Thabo Mbeki for berating him in public.

After a bungled prosecution, Malema was eventually ordered to apologise to Zuma, to pay a R10 000 fine, and was sent to a political school and to anger-management classes.

The national disciplinary committee at the time said should Malema be found guilty of provoking serious divisions or a break-down of unity in the organisation within the next two years, his ANC membership would be suspended. — Additional reporting by Sapa, Reuters, Staff reporter

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