Malema suspension effective immediately

2012-02-04 15:05

Johannesburg - The ANC’s national disciplinary committee of appeal upheld the decision by the organisation’s disciplinary committee to suspend Julius Malema for five years from the ANC Youth League, Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Saturday.

Appeals by  other senior ANCYL members, spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi, were also dismissed.

Only one charge against the group was dropped, that of barging into a meeting. 

Speaking during the announcement of the NDCA’s decision, Ramaphosa said that defending the integrity and policy of the ANC was a declaration undertaken by all party members.

"I will defend...the integrity of the organisation and its principals and combat any tendency towards disruption and factionalism," committee chairperson Ramaphosa quoted from the oath taken by each ANC member.

The ANC's NDC last year found Malema guilty of provoking serious divisions in the league's parent body, the ANC, and bringing the organisation into disrepute.

Malema was suspended from the league for five years and told to vacate his position as president of the organisation.

Ramaphosa said the discipline of party members detailed in the ANC constitution was clear.

"The duty on ANC members...as set out in Rule 5.2G is a duty to carry out lawful and reasonable instructions of the ANC ... this is the undertaking of the ANC constitution," said Ramaphosa.

"Consequently, the appellants arguments that the NDC ruling violates the principals of organisational discipline...must fail "

Last year, Malema said the league would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change.

Malema can challenge his suspension in court. His suspension is, however, effective immediately.

- SAPA