ANCYL to discuss way forward

2012-05-03 10:31

Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League is to hold a national executive committee (NEC) meeting this weekend to decide on the league's future, the SABC reported on Thursday.

"We are going to have an NEC [meeting] over this weekend and we are going to inform the nation of the direction of the Youth League," league deputy president Ronald Lamola said in Cape Town on Tuesday night, the broadcaster reported.

He said the ANCYL was not in crisis following the announcement of the expulsion of its president Julius Malema from the ANC on April 24.

"The Youth League is not a crisis and we are convinced that through political engagements and through processes within the ANC... we will be able to support the president of the Youth League, comrade Floyd, [and] comrade Sindiso Maqaga."

Disciplinary action

Spokesperson Floyd Shivambu and secretary general Sindiso Magaqa were also suspended from the ruling party for three years and one year respectively.

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 ANCs national disciplinary committee. However, on February 29 it announced the sanction against him was being increased to expulsion.

He again appealed and it was this appeal that the ANC's national disciplinary committee of appeal (NDCA) dismissed on April 24. The NDCA also dismissed an appeal by Shivambu.

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.

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.

- SAPA