The ANC Youth League in the provinces have reaffirmed that Julius Malema should serve a second term as president of the ANC's youth wing, the league said on Friday.
“Each province had reaffirmed him (Malema ) as president for the next term at the provincial congresses,” said ANCYL spokeswoman Magdalene Moonsamy.
This followed Malema announcing at a news conference in Johannesburg on Thursday that his term as president was coming to an end next year.
The Witness website had quoted him saying: “My term ends next year and I think those who hate me so much, should celebrate.
“If they have decided to extend it to June, then that's fine too. In June next year I will be done as president of the youth league.”
Moonsamy said Malema's comments were taken out of context.
Malema said the decision to stay on as ANCYL president next year was not up to him but was up to the league as a whole, she said.
“In his loyalty and discipline to the movement he said that he can't just make the decision to stay president, it was up to the league.”
There was no unwritten rule in the leagues constitution against Malema serving another term, she said.
Malema was elected president of the ANCYL in April 2008 and his term ends in April 2011. - Sapa