ANC Youth League secretary-general Sandiso Magaqa has denied missing a deadline to apologise to Public Enterprise Minister Malusi Gigaba for “derogatory” remarks.
“Everyone has rights … the right to appeal,” he told reporters in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
“Its not right to say “D-Day for Magaqa,” he said, referring to media reports.
Magaqa said he had 14 days to appeal his sanction for insulting Gigaba.
“We [leaders] and the youth league remain unshaken. We believe we were treated unfairly,” said Magaqa.
Last week, the ANC’s national disciplinary committee found Magaqa guilty of contravening the constitution of the ANC by making derogatory and potentially defamatory statements.
Magaqa had accused Gigaba of pleasing imperialists after he criticised the youth league’s proposal on nationalisation.
He was disciplined along with youth league president Julius Malema and four others.
The committee suspended Magaqa for 18 months unless he publicly apologised within five days or successfully appealed. — Sapa