/ 11 November 2011

Malema’s home town revels in his suspension

Malema's Home Town Revels In His Suspension

Axed African National Congress Youth League President Julius Malema’s home town of Seshego in Limpopo celebrated the news of his five-year suspension, the Times Live reported on Friday.

According to the website, large convoys of cars noisily drove through the streets of the township, outside Polokwane, with people hanging out of windows.

“It’s over with Malema. There will be peace in South Africa,” sang a group of residents.

A community member, who did not want to be named, said, “We have had enough of Malema and his group, who had been looking at their own interests rather than those of the masses who voted them into power.

“He should have known that what goes around comes around.”

Another said, “We want Sello Moloto back to lead Limpopo because there is a leadership vacuum,” in apparent criticism of Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale’s leadership style.

The ANC’s national disciplinary committee suspended Malema for in effect five years on Thursday and ordered him to vacate his position.

He was found guilty of provoking division within the ruling party and of bringing the organisation into disrepute.

This was after Malema said earlier this year that the youth league would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change there.

Malema later apologised for the remarks but they were widely believed to have caused serious diplomatic embarrassment for the ANC. — Sapa