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Suspended ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema. Photo: Sizwe Ndingane
Julius Malema is to try to breathe life into the organisation he may soon no longer lead when he addresses the ANC Youth League’s national executive committee lekgotla on Friday.
He is to present a political overview at the start of the three-day meeting in Pretoria.
On Thursday, Malema joins his fellow national executive members for what may be his last regular NEC meeting after the ANC’s appeals committee dismissed his bid to be let off the disciplinary hook.
The NEC meeting and the lekgotla – at which Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is also scheduled to speak – come as the league faces up to a future without Malema amid signs of deep divisions as a fierce leadership tussle brews.
While the official word from the league is that it stands united behind its embattled leader, succession talk is rife, with even Malema’s personal assistant, Moshala Mothiba, becoming involved.
Comments posted on Facebook on Wednesday by Malema supporters – including Mothiba – and detractors in the league and its mother body gave a hint of the infighting, with accusations flying.
In one of her comments on Facebook, Mothiba accused league treasurer Pule Mabe and deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi of being “power hungry” and of being used by President Jacob Zuma to campaign against Malema and his allies.
Asked on Wednesday to elaborate on her comments, Mothiba declined. Neither Mabe nor Mosenogi could be reached for comment.
Ronald Lamola, deputy leader of the ANC youth wing, said he could not comment as the NEC had yet to meet.
He referred all queries to league spokesman Floyd Shivambu, who did not answer his phone.
Topping the NEC’s agenda on Thursday is whether the fight for Malema’s political life should be continued by taking up the ANC appeals committee’s offer allowing for argument for lesser sentences for Malema and his right-hand man, Shivambu.
A risk for Malema and Shivambu is that if they present arguments in mitigation before the ANC national disciplinary committee, the ANC is to be allowed to counter these and may argue in favour of stronger sentences.
For Malema, this could mean a suspension longer than the five years handed down by the committee in November.
Also on the NEC’s agenda will be the thorny issue of who should lead the league, if and when Malema’s suspension takes effect.
The league’s constitution stipulates that in the absence of the president, his or her deputy – in this case Ronald Lamola – take over the reins.
However, some in the league have other ideas.
It is understood there is a strong push by some quarters to have Mabe step into Malema’s shoes.
It’s unclear which way the balance of forces in the NEC will tilt.
As the highest decision-making body between conferences, the NEC has the power to rule on the path the league should take.
But suggestions have also been made that an extraordinary conference be held before June to allow the league’s rank and file to meet to elect a new leadership.
The fight for the throne of the youth league has reached fever pitch and Thursday’s meeting is bound to become heated.
Comrades in the league have been discussing who would be the best man or woman.
A league NEC member, who asked not to be named, said Lamola was the “logical” candidate, but Mabe was pushing hard.
“All our lives are at stake here,” said another NEC member, who is in Malema’s camp. “It’s a tricky situation that we can’t pre-empt.”
The lekgotla begins after Thursday’s NEC meeting.
SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe are also scheduled to speak, but behind closed doors. - Political Bureau
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Anonymous, wrote
Stuart, wrote
Julius Malema needs to be given more backing from the country as he is the only one willing to stir and add to the pot
Me again, wrote
@leslie By who? Malema never caused any death. Google was not written by God, don't believe anything you read. Can't you see for yourself? Please sleep, leslie.
Phillipine Phogole, wrote
Where is 9 billion Rands Zuma put them aside for job creations last year,Zuma,his fats cat Trevor Manuel,Ramaphosa.Collins Chabane are still planing how to create jobs untill Jesus came,what kind of job are they planning.Hanekon,Cyril Ramaphosa,Justice Minister Hadebe are all Zuma friends they are getting instructions from a big Cat to shed Malema out of ANCYL that is why they dismiss all the facts the youth put forward for their defence.Whether Malema is out or in We are going to vote out Zuma,Mantashe no second term for Zuma,Mantashe.
Leslie, wrote
did you know... because of Malema... south africa is placed on the Genocide watch... If you doint believe me google it!
Anonymous, wrote
Malema is a thread to democracy. He does understand democratic boundries. He is still having slave mentality. Those with him in the current ANCYL inhaled his simptoms as such infectea, and they are not better than him to replace him. New visionary blood is needed to lead this influencial wing of the ANC. Malema is no good example in a democratic society to qoute, but an embarassment. The ANC must becareful in promoting characters of Malema's kind. They beef-up security for hin that he end up looking down to his seniors, the organisation and his leadership assets,the people. Going beyond the borders of South Africa with destructive motieves, like the comments about victory of the opposition in Ivory Coast, utterance regarding Botswana, the MDC in Zimbabwe, etc, really indicated that this boy has no respect to people's choice. Hitler is dead and now people are pulling hard to rebuild what he destroyed. Sexwale should have breathed life not death into this young mad boy.
Buddy, wrote
What is actually happening is, at our mines, people from London own South African mines making lot and lot of money, trillions and not helping...then people from Malawi, Zim, Mozambique etc work at these mines for very less money and qualified S.A people continue without work. Vavi, the best striker in SA continue to organise strikes, zuma continues to ask trevor manuel to plan again, blade waits for President Julius Malema to say something and then that is when you will hear from him and buti manamela. So i hate to see politicians without a plan that shows change will come on tv. That is why i had hope in President Malema, the only man with a plan in SA.
ceebee, wrote
@ Gadaffi, that's if you can find one with a brain. The ANCYL have no ideas on governing but are only there to "take" what is not theirs.
buddy, wrote
Do u think mines makes a lot of money? Have you watched the mining indaba and realised that 98% percent of the people were rich whites? Do you now wonder why whites hate Malema and using you as a black idiot? Do you think one mine can't afford one University and help NSFAS? Do you even know about the crisis about NSFAS and that some of the people are not paid for? Does a mine surrounded by shacks makes sense to you? ARE YOU EVEN AWARE THAT MINE OWNERS ARE ACTUALLY THESE INVESTORS WHO ARE IN LONDON? Are you happy with foreigners hired at mines given less less money while unemployment for S.Africans continue to rise? ARE YOU AWARE THAT MINES GENERATE A LOT OF MONEY? ARE u even aware that for 17 good years we have been planning or your leaders have been planning on how to create jobs?
Anonymous, wrote
Lets hope every one of these criminals who support Malema are indeed left without jobs and go back to doing what they are qualified to do....nothing.
Precious, wrote
Malema knows too much for the leaderships' own good. There is no way they will get rid of him. Just look how they are continuously giving him an escape route. However, if he rants again this time, they wont be able to ignore him, they will have to act to save face.
Anonymous, wrote
Politics at its best, working the same as it does the world over - on the the front face everybody is in it together, under the covers everyone is in it for themselves. For this reason Malema is sunk in the ANCYL but it maybe time for him to form the NANC - New African National Congress and give the party a new life and direction - it may just work.
Simon, wrote
Charges Brought: Malema allowed to work Conviction secured: Malema allowed to work Appeal upheld: Malema allowed to work Clear case of the ANC getting to have their cake and eat it. If I was Malema I would take this time to bring the whole castle down. Nothing to lose.
Anonymous, wrote
here in Limpopo we dont want this called malema and his friends- we never wanted him actually- as the ANCYL in Peter Mokaba Region we no longer want jacob socialite facebook lebogo to be the sectraty of the province- we have learnt that lebogo is a partyentertainmentevents organizer not a politicianleader. this boy was imposed to us at Makhado by malema- during that time the youth wanted Lehlogonolo Masoga to lead us- NOW WE ARE SAYING AWAY WITH LEBOGO, AWAY WITH MALema- viva CDE EDDY MALEKA viva- and it seems like all the regions are agreeing with this cause to remove the sociale lebogo- amandla!!! roar peter mokaba region roar- Its Eddy or nothing- alutaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa- we are stil saying mathale shud step down
Robert Madiagane, wrote
Malema have lots of snakes in his rank.They fight for the president throne rather than be behind Malema all the way to end sick snakes.
cad, wrote
shechinah, wrote
anthony , wrote
Mark, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
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