Malema appeal hearings set to take place

2012-04-12 07:27

Johannesburg - The appeal hearings of ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and his spokesperson Floyd Shivambu are expected to be held on Thursday.

These will take place at the party's Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg, ANC national disciplinary committee of appeals chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on April 3.

In November 2011, the disciplinary committee announced that Malema had been expelled from the ANC for five years for sowing division in the party, and for bringing it into disrepute. He had unfavourably compared the leadership style of President Jacob Zuma to that of his predecessor Thabo Mbeki, and made remarks about bringing about regime change in Botswana.

He remains African National Congress Youth League president until all options to overturn his expulsion have been exhausted.

Shivambu was also found guilty of sowing division and for 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.

Should Malema's appeal fail, he can ask the ANC's national executive committee to review the matter. Should this also fail, he could attempt to raise it on the floor of the ANC's elective conference in Mangaung in December.

Last month, Malema said he would seek redress in the courts if his expulsion was upheld.

On April 4, Malema's ANC membership was suspended with immediate effect after he called President Jacob Zuma a dictator and said he was suppressing the league. He now faces disciplinary proceedings in this matter.

- SAPA