ANCYL tries to save Malema

2012-02-12 10:45

Polokwane - The ANCYL Limpopo's secretary Jacob Lebogo has asked for a political solution to league president Julius Malema's disciplinary case, the Sunday Times has reported.

Lebogo wrote to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe pleading for mercy, the weekly reported.

Malema has been suspended for five years by the ANC's national disciplinary committee.

Last week, he was given a 14-day reprieve to argue for a lesser sentence after his appeal to have his suspension overturned failed.

He and his executive were found guilty of provoking serious divisions within the ruling party and bringing it into disrepute, partly for threatening to send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change.

The Sunday Times reported that Malema was losing support within his own national executive committee, with some youth leaders telling him to accept the ANC's decision to suspend him.

However, Malema's backers apparently plan to leave the remaining officials as they are, rather than electing a new president.

This would allow Malema's deputy Ronald Lamola to act as president until the next ANCYL conference.

Lamola would be expected to continue campaigning for former ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula to replace Mantashe, according to the weekly.

- SAPA