Malema meets ANC's midnight deadline

2012-04-19 15:35

Johannesburg - Suspended ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema and two other leaders submitted their written heads of argument to the ANC appeals committee on time, party spokesperson Keith Khoza said on Thursday.

Malema, ANCYL secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and spokesperson Floyd Shivambu had until midnight on Wednesday to submit their written arguments to the ANC's national disciplinary committee of appeal (NDCA).

They were scheduled to make the submissions last week, but the matter was postponed because their lawyer was not available and they had also asked for a new lawyer.

The ANC was expected to submit its written heads of argument on Friday.

Malema was expelled from the ANC in November 2011 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 concerning bringing about regime change in Botswana.

NDCA dismisses Malema’s appeal

Despite the expulsion Malema remained ANCYL president until all options to overturn his sentence had been exhausted.

However, he was gagged last week when the ANC's national disciplinary committee suspended him from the ANC after he called Zuma a dictator. The conditions of the suspension prohibit him from exercising any duty as an ANC member, president of the ANCYL or member of the Limpopo provincial executive committee.

On Tuesday, the NDCA dismissed Malema's bid to have his temporary suspension from the ANC in this matter set aside. The two disciplinary proceedings were separate.

Shivambu was also 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 was suspended for three years for making derogatory remarks about Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

This was suspended for three years on condition that he apologise to Gigaba within 15 days. Magaqa apologised to Gigaba, in a statement sent to the media on March 10.

- SAPA