Johannesburg - Julius Malema will step down as president of the ANC Youth League next year.
“My term ends next year and I think those who hate me so much … should celebrate,” he said at a news conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, shortly after a meeting of the youth league’s working committee.
Malema was elected president of the ANCYL in April 2008 and his term ends in April 2011.
“If they have decided to extend it to June … then that’s fine too,” he said. “In June next year I will be done as president of the youth league.
“The youth league will find its own way around the issue of [a new] president … They shouldn’t worry because there will always be a leader in the youth league.”
Rapped over the knuckles by Zuma
It was Malema’s first news conference since ANC president Jacob Zuma rapped him over the knuckles last week during the party’s national general council (NGC) in Durban.
League secretary-general Vuyiswa Tulelo said the NGC was not the right platform to dismiss the punishment dealt to Malema after a disciplinary hearing earlier this year.
She does feel, however, that the youth league won’t stop there.
“We’ll take it to the policy conference and the national conference in 2012 so it can be scrapped there.
Malema was punished in May for making an inflammatory remark about Zuma and a disciplinary committee found that this could undermine the unity of the ANC.
His punishment entailed apologising to Zuma in public, attending the ANC’s political school for 20 days and paying a R10?000 fine to a youth development project. He was also ordered to seek professional help to learn how to contain his temper.
“We’re all happy here,” said Tulelo. “We’re a happy bunch and we don’t need such classes, but if need be we’ll all go.”
According to the league, they have not paid the R10 000 fine, because the ANC has not yet determined to which organisation it should be paid.
Criticism of Vavi
Malema on Thursday criticised Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi for calling some ANC leaders “hyenas”.
“We are still suffering from flu from Durban … and already Vavi insults leaders of the ANC as hyenas,” Malema said.
The ANC’s NGC in Durban last week came out strongly against ill-discipline and public spats.
Malema urged ANC leaders to take action.
“My term ends next year and I think those who hate me so much … should celebrate,” he said at a news conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, shortly after a meeting of the youth league’s working committee.
Malema was elected president of the ANCYL in April 2008 and his term ends in April 2011.
“If they have decided to extend it to June … then that’s fine too,” he said. “In June next year I will be done as president of the youth league.
“The youth league will find its own way around the issue of [a new] president … They shouldn’t worry because there will always be a leader in the youth league.”
Rapped over the knuckles by Zuma
It was Malema’s first news conference since ANC president Jacob Zuma rapped him over the knuckles last week during the party’s national general council (NGC) in Durban.
League secretary-general Vuyiswa Tulelo said the NGC was not the right platform to dismiss the punishment dealt to Malema after a disciplinary hearing earlier this year.
She does feel, however, that the youth league won’t stop there.
“We’ll take it to the policy conference and the national conference in 2012 so it can be scrapped there.
Malema was punished in May for making an inflammatory remark about Zuma and a disciplinary committee found that this could undermine the unity of the ANC.
His punishment entailed apologising to Zuma in public, attending the ANC’s political school for 20 days and paying a R10?000 fine to a youth development project. He was also ordered to seek professional help to learn how to contain his temper.
“We’re all happy here,” said Tulelo. “We’re a happy bunch and we don’t need such classes, but if need be we’ll all go.”
According to the league, they have not paid the R10 000 fine, because the ANC has not yet determined to which organisation it should be paid.
Criticism of Vavi
Malema on Thursday criticised Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi for calling some ANC leaders “hyenas”.
“We are still suffering from flu from Durban … and already Vavi insults leaders of the ANC as hyenas,” Malema said.
The ANC’s NGC in Durban last week came out strongly against ill-discipline and public spats.
Malema urged ANC leaders to take action.
