Malema ‘thrown out’ for 5 years

By Marc Davies

ANC Youth League President Julius Malema has been suspended from the ANC and removed as youth league party president after being found guilty of “sowing divisions” within the ruling party. Malema has 14 days in which to appeal the ruling, following which he will be forced to step down.

Addressing reporters at the ANC’s Luthuli House in Johannesburg, Derek Hanekom, chairperson of the National Disciplinary Committee, said Malema’s comments on ‘regime change’ in Botswana were “reckless” and brought the ANC into disrepute. He further said that “discipline is non-negotiable and must be enforced”. The controversial youth leader was brought to task on several charges, including criticising President Zuma at another ANC disciplinary hearing last year.

Malema’s right-hand man and spokesperson for the Youth League, Floyd Shivambu, was also suspended on charges of swearing at a journalist and accusing the ruling body of associating with imperialists. Hanekom described Shivambu as arrogant, ill-disciplined and defiant and enforced a suspension of three years.

ANCYL Deputy President Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer Pule Mabe were also suspended for interrupting a meeting of national ANC officials last year.

Following the news of Malema’s five-year suspension, South African stocks gained on the market in addition to an immediate slight strengthening of the Rand. Previous comments on nationalisation and land expropriation without compensation have negatively affected markets in recent months, analysts say.

Malema was found not guilty on charges of inciting hatred and racism in the country. Despite this, his suspension from the ANC has been labelled a possible “backlash” for Zuma’s 2012 succession battle by political analysts. According to Fin24, Anne Fruhauf – Eurasia Group analyst – said that the ruling doesn’t “directly tackle the nationalisation issue” but that it may have muted the debate significantly because the most vocal proponent has been “cut down to size”.

Malema was writing a university examination on Thursday morning and was unavailable for immediate comment.