ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema is in for a momentous weekend as he appeals against his temporary suspension today and the league’s executive holds its twice-postponed special meeting tomorrow to chart the way forward.
This comes as his financial woes also appear to be mounting. Construction at Malema’s multi-million rand Joburg home has been halted, reportedly due to non-payment of R400 000, according to Beeld newspaper.
Kwandisa Construction owner Frederico de Gregorio is quoted as saying there had been a “temporary interruption”, but he declined to talk about the reasons.
Meanwhile, the Saturday Star has confirmed that the anti-corruption task team – comprising the police’s Hawks unit, the SA Revenue Service and the Special Investigating Unit – and the public protector, are continuing to probe Malema’s financial and business interests. These include various Limpopo tenders and On-Point Engineering which won a management contract to handle the provincial Transport Department’s contracts.
However, the big question is whether Malema will attend or address tomorrow’s youth league national executive committee (NEC) meeting. To do so would be in defiance of the conditions of his temporary suspension, which preclude him from carrying out duties as an ANC member and youth league president and ban him from addressing any structures.
Some youth league provincial leaders expect him to be present.
“We will not start without him. If he’s not there, the NEC will not start,” said ANCYL Northern Cape chairman Shadrack Tlhaole. “There is no-one who is elected to lead that can abandon the youth league.”
Likely to be on the agenda is the league’s stance on Malema’s expulsion and temporary suspension. He was suspended with immediate effect last week for describing President Jacob Zuma as a dictator.
Previously the league has maintained Malema will remain president until its next conference in 2014.