/ 16 November 2011

No holds barred as Julius Malema rips into ANC’s NDC

No Holds Barred As Julius Malema Rips Into Anc's Ndc

Announcing the ANC Youth League’s decision to appeal its leadership’s suspension, Julius Malema has come out guns blazing against the ANC’s disciplinary committee.

“We have formally decided to appeal these findings of the NDC. We can assure all ANCYL supporters they’ll be judged as unfounded,” Malema said at a press briefing at Luthuli House on Wednesday morning.

“Never in the ANC’s 100-year history has there been a more important call to action: ‘Unban the ANC Youth League and defend the voice of the voiceless’,” Malema said.

The league “totally rejects the outcome of the National Disciplinary Committee [NDC] which suspended the ANCYL leadership”, said the youth league leader, adding that there was a clear directive from the ANC to persecute the youth league at all costs.

“It is clear the NDC stooped to the arena of inner party politics where members are trying to settle scores,” he said. “[NDC chairperson] Derek Hanekom’s dismissive approach to everything the ANC Youth League said shows he had a different agenda to implementing the ANC constitution”.

In response to a question asking if he would consider leaving the ANC and forming his own political party if his appeal failed, Malema rejected the notion out of hand.

“My blood is black, green and gold — I will never form a political party. I was born ANC and I will die ANC.”

Malema received a five-year suspension for bringing the party into disrepute following comments he made about bringing regime change in Botswana, as well as sowing division within the ANC after comparing the leadership styles of Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.

The league’s spokesperson Floyd Shivambu was served with a three-year suspension also for bringing the party into disrepute after swearing at a journalist as well as for comments made relating to regime change in Botswana.

Youth league secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa faces an 18-month suspension for derogatory comments he made towards Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

The remaining league leadership including deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer-general Pule Mabe and deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogoi have all been suspended for two years for the disruption of a top level ANC meeting.