The decision to suspend former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and other youth league members has been upheld, the ANC’s national disciplinary committee of appeal chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Saturday.
The decision came after a delay of over two hours.
Malema, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer-general Pule Mabe, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi and spokesperson Floyd Shivambu were suspended from the ANC last year.
A disciplinary committee found them guilty of sowing division within the ANC and of bringing the party into disrepute, partly as a result of comments made on bringing about regime change in Botswana.
Arguing before the NDCA against the suspensions, they submitted that they had not been given a chance to argue in mitigation of their sentences. They contended that ANC disciplinary committee members, including chairperson Derek Hanekom and Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, should have recused themselves because they had publicly disagreed with the ANCYL’s positions on land reform and the nationalisation of mines. They also held that the verdict and sanctions relied on an outdated section of the ANCYL constitution.
Now that they have lost the appeal, they could refer the matter to the ANC’s national executive committee, seek to have the elective conference in Mangaung review the suspensions, or head to the courts.
The sentence has been referred back for mitigation. — M&G reporter, Sapa
For more news and multimedia on ANC Youth League president Julius Malema view our special report.
