ANDISIWE MAKINANA
THE ANC Youth League is to communicate to its members a detailed plan to defy the ANC leadership over the charges brought against its top brass.
The league is rallying behind its leaders, who are facing disciplinary charges and possible suspension from the ANC, pledging them “total support”.
The league said it was seeking an urgent meeting today with ANC leaders to discuss the charges against its president, Julius Malema, and his close ally, Floyd Shivambu.
The league said it was “convinced the issues contained in the charges are political issues” which required discussion in the structures of the ANC.
It said some of the issues could have have been discussed before the charges were laid against the youth league’s leadership.
While the league would subject itself to the discipline and policies of the parent body, it also re-affirmed its determination to fight “tirelessly and fearlessly” for its signature policies of economic freedom in their lifetime; nationalisation of mines; expropriation of land without compensation; and provision of free, quality education for all.
The ANC did not respond to requests for comment on the league’s statement last night.
After emerging from a day-long special meeting of the national executive committee last night, Eastern Cape provincial secretary Mzonke Ndabeni refused to discuss his province’s views on the charges, but said the decisions taken at yesterday’s meeting would be communicated to party structures and the media today.
The Daily News drew a similar response from Western Cape youth league co-ordinator, Senzeni Mphila, who said they would communicate decisions to the relevant league structures and then at a press conference later this morning.
Sunday newspapers reported a plan by youth league members to march to ANC provincial and regional offices as part of a defiance campaign in response to the charges against Malema and Shivambu.
On Friday, the ANC charged the two with various violations of the ANC constitution, including bringing the ANC into disrepute through their statements on Botswana, and sowing divisions in the ranks of the ANC.
They will face the ANC’s national disciplinary committee in separate hearings scheduled for August 30 and 31.
Yesterday there were claims by some in the league that the entire top five leadership had been charged by the ANC’s national disciplinary committee.
But ANC spokesman, Keith Khoza, dismissed the allegations last night, saying he had no knowledge of charges being brought against any more individuals.
Malema is subject to a suspended sentence, still valid for eight months, which, if imposed, would lead to his mandatory suspension from the ANC.
This came after he pleaded guilty to undermining President Jacob Zuma last year.
He was warned not to commit a similar offence for two years or his ANC membership would be suspended.
He was fined R10 000, ordered to attend political education at the party school for almost three weeks, and to attend anger management classes under the supervision of ANC officials.
But the league again provoked the anger of party elders by releasing a statement last month about the “puppet regime” in Botswana, saying the league would establish a task team to mobilise opposition parties to topple Botswana’s government.
The league withdrew the statement last Saturday – two weeks after it was issued.
On Friday the ANC announced the charges against Malema and Shivambu.
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