George Herald | Malema expelled from ANC

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Malema expelled from ANC
10:36 (GMT+2), Wed, 25 April 2012

NATIONAL NEWS - ANCYL president Julius Malema has been expelled from the ANC, its National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA) announced on Tuesday night.

"In respect of the present disciplinary hearing, the NDCA confirms the sanction imposed by the [National Disciplinary Committee] NDC that the appellant be expelled from the ANC," it said.

Malema was originally suspended for five years for sowing division in the party and for bringing it into disrepute.

He was found to have done so by unfavourably comparing the leadership style of President Jacob Zuma to that of former president Thabo Mbeki, and for remarks on bringing about regime change in Botswana.

He unsuccessfully appealed, but was granted leave to present evidence in mitigation to the NDC. However, on February 29 it announced that the e sanction against him was being increased to one of expulsion.

He again appealed and it was this appeal that the NDCA dismissed on Tuesday.

The NDCA also confirmed the suspension of Malema's membership of the ANC for two years, arising from a disciplinary hearing held in May 2010.

In that instance, Malema was charged with bringing the ANC and the government into disrepute over comments he made about Zimbabwe, his treatment of BBC journalist Jonah Fisher and his comparison of Zuma to Mbeki.

Malema had praised Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe and the violent seizure of land from white farmers after a visit in April 2010, while Zuma was trying to broker a political settlement there.

Later that month, during a briefing on his visit, Malema lashed out at BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, calling him a "bloody agent".

Zuma publicly criticised Malema's behaviour, describing it as "alien to the ANC".

In May 2010, Malema entered into a plea bargain over the charges. He was fined R10,000, made to publicly apologise and to attend anger management classes, but this did not happen.

The ANC's national disciplinary committee said at the time that, should Malema be found guilty of provoking serious divisions or a break-down of unity in the organisation within the next two years, his ANC membership would be suspended.

Earlier this month, Malema was also temporarily suspended from the ANC for calling Zuma a dictator and accusing him of suppressing the ANCYL, during a lecture at the University of the Witwatersrand on March 30.

His attempt to have this sanction set aside was dismissed earlier this month by the NDCA.

The conditions of the suspension meant Malema was not be allowed to exercise any duty as an ANC member, as president of the ANCYL, or as a member of the Limpopo provincial executive committee.

On Saturday, Malema said he was not breaking any rules of his suspension by addressing Limpopo ANCYL elective conference delegates from his home.

"When you visit me here and you want me to engage with you, I do so without any fear or favour because this is my house," he said.

The ANCYL in Limpopo elected a new executive, with Rudzani Ludere as chairman, in Polokwane over the weekend. Malema was not allowed to attend the conference.

On Tuesday night, the situation outside Malema's grandmother's home in Seshego was quiet, a change from previous rulings, when his supporters and detractors have loudly made their presence known.

Last month, Malema said he would seek redress in the courts if he was expelled. Until then he had consistently rejected the idea of taking legal action against the ANC.

He can also ask the ANC's national executive committee to review the matter, and should this fail, he can try to raise it on the floor of the ANC's elective conference in Mangaung in December.

The NDCA has also dismissed an appeal by ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu and has suspended his ANC membership for three years.

Like Malema, Shivambu was found guilty of sowing division and bringing the ANC into disrepute. He was suspended from the ANC for three years for swearing at a journalist and for issuing a statement calling for a change of government in Botswana.

ANCYL secretary general Sindiso Magaqa's appeal against his suspension was also dismissed, but it was reduced from three years to one year with immediate effect. He was ordered to vacate his position.

Magaqa was punished for making derogatory remarks about Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba. Initially, his suspension was contingent on him apologising to Gigaba within 15 days. Magaqa apologised to Gigaba in a statement sent to the media on March 10.

Source : Sapa