/ 25 November 2011

Malema makes midnight deadline to appeal suspension

Malema Makes Midnight Deadline To Appeal Suspension

African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema has submitted an appeal against his five-year suspension, his lawyer said on Friday.

“Yes, he [Malema] did submit it,” said advocate Dali Mpofu.

“All the others also filed appeals.”

He would not comment further on the matter.

The six leaders had made their Thursday midnight deadline.

Double standards
Malema on Thursday night accused the ANC leadership of double standards and not keeping to the party’s history.

“The discipline of the ANC must not have eyes, it must be consistent,” Malema told a huge crowd at a lecture in Rocklands, Mangaung.

Referring to the two ANC MPs who failed to vote on the Protection of State Information Bill in Parliament this week, Malema said these people had disobeyed the ANC.

They also openly talked about why they had defied the party.

“The discipline of the ANC must apply to everybody. Let’s see what happens,” Malema said.

Prosecuted in public
Pointing to youth league leaders, Malema said they had been suspended for talking politics and for holding a different view.

He said on the other side the party had people who lied to the state president, stole government money and went to visit girlfriends in prisons.

“They do not get DC [disciplinary hearings], they do not get suspended, they remain in Parliament.”

Malema said it needed to be explained why party members, found to have stolen public funds, “investigated and confirmed”, could stay a member of the ANC but somebody not agreeing politically was expected to leave.

Earlier, Malema told the crowd there had never been an youth league leader who had been prosecuted in public.

‘Ready for anything’
He referred to Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu who gave the early ANC leadership trouble on how things had to be done.

“OR Tambo, the deputy president, explained inside the party that the youth works like this. He never agreed with them and he never suspended them.”

Malema told the crowd that “we are going to be suspended” but that he did not care.

“We are ready for anything.”

‘Boendoes’
Malema and five other youth league leaders were found guilty and sanctioned by the ANC’s national disciplinary committee (NDC) two weeks ago.

Malema was given a five-year suspension and was told to vacate his position as president.

On Thursday night, Malema submitted that he stood by everything said and done that led to the disciplinary hearing.

Even if he gets suspended and sent to “a little corner in the boendoes”, he would tell the other cattle herders that the youth league was correct in its opinion.

Malema urged other youth leaders not to show fear.

“If you get a call after this meeting, you will be a changed man.”

Seeds of division
Malema was found guilty for bringing the ruling party into disrepute and sowing seeds of division.

League spokesman Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi were also found guilty of various charges and sanctioned by the ANC’s national disciplinary committee two weeks ago.

Malema was given a five-year suspension and Shivambu suspended for three years. Both men were told to vacate their positions.

The ANC membership of the other four leaders was suspended for two years, with the sanction itself suspended for three years. — Sapa