Johannesburg - The national executive committee (NEC) of the African National Congress Youth League on Sunday re-affirmed its support for leader Julius Malema and party spokesperson Floyd Shivambu in light of charges brought against them over comments made about Botswana.
“The national executive committee (NEC) is convinced that the issues contained in the charges are political issues, which require discussion in the structures of the ANC,” secretary Sindiso Magaqa said in a statement.
He said these “issues” could have been discussed with ANC leadership before charges were laid.
The ANCYL convened a special NEC meeting on Sunday at Luthuli House in Johannesburg to discuss the charges.
On Friday, the ANC announced the dates for disciplinary hearings for both Malema and Shivambu.
The hearings would take place on August 30 and 31.
Malema recently said the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change. It believed the government there was “in full co-operation with imperialists” and undermining the “African agenda”.
The ANC publicly rebuked the League. The League in turn said it did not believe it was in the wrong or going against ANC policy.
Magaqa said the League would, at all times, subject itself to the discipline and policies of the ANC.
It would request an urgent meeting with the leadership of the ANC, he said. - Sapa