ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa has missed the deadline to apologise to Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba for his “derogatory” statements, but nevertheless plans to appeal his suspension.
“If you [as a journalist] have not seen the apology and I haven’t seen it then it hasn’t been done,” said Gigaba’s spokesperson, Mayihlome Tshwete, on Tuesday night.
“We haven’t seen a public apology yet.”
SABC news reported on Wednesday morning that Magaqa would appeal his sanction.
The matter was expected to be addressed by the league later on Wednesday morning, at a media briefing on the outcomes of its national executive committee meeting at the weekend.
Magaqa had accused Gigaba of pleasing imperialists after he criticised the league on its nationalisation proposal.
Last Thursday, the ANC’s national disciplinary committee found Magaqa guilty of contravening the constitution of the ruling party by making derogatory and potentially defamatory statements.
The committee gave Magaqa the option to publicly apologise within five days or launch an appeal.
His 18-month suspension would kick in if he failed to do so, the committee said.
The press conference on Wednesday was scheduled to take place at the ANC’s Luthuli House heaquarters in Johannesburg at 11am, axed spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said on Tuesday.
In addition to ordering Magaqa to apologise to Gigaba, the disciplinary committee suspended Julius Malema from the party, effectively removing him as the league’s president, should his appeal fail, after he was found guilty for provoking serious divisions within the ANC and bringing the party into disrepute.
The committee also found Shivambu guilty of misconduct for swearing at a journalist and accusing the ruling party of associating with imperialists.
The committee’s chair, Derek Hanekom noted Shivambu’s “arrogant” behaviour and found that he had breached the ANC’s code of conduct and prejudiced its reputation.
It found that Sivambu put the country at risk and his statement posed a threat to foreign investment.
Shivambu’s membership was suspended for three years and he was ordered to vacate his office. — Sapa