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African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe. Photo: Sam Clark
Johannesburg - The African National Congress Youth League cannot disobey the decision to suspend its leader Julius Malema, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday.
“Once a decision is taken by a higher organ, it is binding on all lower organs, whether you think it is stupid or uninformed, it is a decision and it cannot be refused,” he said.
Mantashe, who is also the chairperson of the South African Communist Party, was speaking at a Young Communist League meeting at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
He said the African National Congress Youth League that formed in 1944 represented a “body of opinion” in the ANC.
“You can't claim to be a body of opinion, you earn it. The Youth League of 1944 had the intellectual capacity and analytical ability to influence the ANC to a particular direction.”
He said the generational mix in the party was not the function of “birthdays”, but rather one's contribution to the party.
“It is not a Youth League that says move out, we have arrived,” he said.
“You graduate into the structure of the mother body through your contribution, not because you say, 'it is our turn'.”
He said the ANC suspended several members in the 60s and 70s after they disagreed with allowing non-Africans to join the party.
“They were expelled after six years. People ask, 'why so long to expel disruptive members?'. The ANC is an elephant that goes slow... we do not just expel.”
Earlier in the day ANCYL deputy president Ronald Lamola said Malema would not be removed from his position by anyone but the structures of the League.
“It is only the internal process of the ANCYL that can decide to elect or un-elect leadership of the ANCYL,” Lamola told reporters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
“The ANCYL will never agree that its leadership be subjected to unfair and unjust treatment or banished for narrow political purposes.”
He said the “foreign tradition” of trying to remove leaders of elected league structures without consent had to be “nipped in the bud”.
Malema, his spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, League secretary general Sandiso Magaqa, treasurer general Pule Mabe and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi were found guilty, in November, of bringing the ANC into disrepute and of sowing division in the party, partly for making comments about regime change in Botswana.
Malema, who was found to have compared President Jacob Zuma unfavourably to his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, was suspended for five years. Shivambu, who insulted a journalist, was suspended for three years.
Magaqa, who was found to have made derogatory and potentially defamatory statements about Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba, received an 18-month suspension, suspended for three years, on condition he apologise within five days of receiving the penalty or appealing against it.
On February 4, the ANC's appeals committee announced it had dismissed attempts by Malema, Shivambu, Magaqa and the others to have the guilty verdicts against them overturned.
Asked whether the ANCYL was distancing itself from the ANC by not complying with its sanctions, Lamola said it was not.
“There will never be a time when the ANCYL will operate outside of the ANC. We will always be an organisation within the ANC.”
“There is no consistency of discipline in the ANC... There has been disrepute brought to the ANC by many amongst its leadership and there was no action that was taken,” he said.
“We believe that the ANC carries an obligation to educate and guide the ANCYL on all critical policy issues and not persecute the leadership for articulating the policy of the ANCYL.” - Sapa
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ConfusedVictim, wrote
The ANC is an "ELEPHANT"? I thought the IFP were elephants. Awesome!!! Bring back the elephant statues to Durban!!! They're no longer IFP symbols!!!
Anonymous, wrote
It looks like SG is only fighting Youth league. Mantashe must know that he destroyed the ANC . How do you suspend people for not agreeing with you. JZ and SG must mobilise structures on the ground if they want to be reflected. People aren't stupid, we can all see that suension has to do with!onga Mantashe you controlling ANC as if it's Pty Ltd. people aren't Mantashe you controlling ANC as if it belongs to your family. People arent stupid the whole expulsion has to do with Mangaung.
Silver Fox, wrote
Karen, wrote
This while saga is just hysterical!! These buffoons all acting like idiots thinking they are intelligent and no matter how ridiculous we tell they look, they just ignore it, put it down to racism and continue on their arrogant way thinking they are politicians. Its really hillarious....if only this was a movie instead of our government I would really enjoy the show. The only thing that ruins the humour is that my life and the lives of my children are being destroyed while these idiots pretend know politics and government.
Anonymous, wrote
Malema has only been allowed to go as far as he has simply because he is not worth the price of a brass casing tipped with a copper jacketed slug!!
Ali, wrote
The ANCYL is misguided and its leadership continue to mislead it. To help you @Graham F, yes to be a member of any of the Leagues,you have to be a member of the ANC first (YL has age limits), 2nd an Office-bearer of ANCYL has to be a member of YL in good standing and is elected by the YL itself, your 3rd Q:if an ANC member is suspended she is not allowed to participate in any activities of the organisation, be it ANC, ANCWL or ANCYL! Now you know its time you contacted Luthuli House they will tell you which branch you must join by filling out membership forms - you join and pledge loyalty and to be selfless for no personal or material gain as an individual! @The Archer", sad but true what you say that Mantashe & Zuma allowed the ANCYL esp Julius (not all of them) to be what he is today, when it suited them and that was unfortunate! However, I will DISAGREE with you that the "ANC trained ANCYL in its nursery to disrespect authority.."that CANNOT be true, the buzzword in the movement is "Discipline" and there are lots of examples of "disciplined cadres of the movement" - Malema's case is an exception, you won't have all you kids behave in the same way! But i think this is a huge lesson for all - Julius was allowed to insult Mangosuthu, telling him he was going "to recruit his family in UlundiNongoma", to which he replied with tears saying "Mr Malema can come recruit my family, only tell me the date" - that was it, in African culture you CANNOT make an adultelderly shed tears, you'd be in trouble, it brings bad luck & misfortune!
Anonymous, wrote
The African National Criminal party kept quiet while Malema wanted to shoot the boers, when he screamed nationalisation and when he almost collapsed the countries economy, the created this animal and now they cannot control it. The ANC has absolutely no foresight which is blatantly obvious when you look at Malema, toll roads, public works, secrecy bill, eskom, telkom etc etc etc. They worry about things that are today problems as they do not have the brain power to think of tomorrow.
loctor, wrote
@Proletariat, I totally agree with you comrade. they busy complicating things you know thinking they smart enough to fight ANC itself, hehehe ANC was found in 1912 who are they to do such thing.
loctor, wrote
I think comrade Malema has went too far, analysing this situation politically, you cannot start something which you cannot finish. I mean He starts a war thinking we as comrades will backup him no and I say no him and shivambu must see to this matter.
Zisto, wrote
The ANC is right in dismissing Malema and the crew - he's arrogance propelled by dubias tender mishandlings and misleading innocent poor Youth South African as being a The Ultamate Leader - continually pointing fingers and dihonouring our leaders shifting focus from the 2BILLION he has stolen.
Proletariat, wrote
Malema and his co-accused need to be expelled totaly 2 the youth league they dont represent the needs of SA youth they isntead jump 2 cross border matters (that do not concern the youth) leaving crusial issues like unemployment, education, HIVPandemic. Coruption. By the way what can Malema say about coruption when hez on the list targeted by Madonsela. I hate even the fact that they show arrogance even though they r given lenient sentences. In this instance i must qoute Rv Tutu 'Juju u dont represent me' even thou i despise most of rev's sentiments.
Anonymous, wrote
The pleas in mitigation were to be 2 hrs each, and this is ample time to be dealt with in a morning. Yet it's 4 days later now and still no word about the Malema, Shivambu et al final verdict. And, in the meantime, they scoff and mock Zuma, Mantashe and all those who think they can "give orders"...
Ali, wrote
I was at this so-called meeting where Mantashe spoke, in actual fact it was a lecture organised by the YCL Linda Jabane Branch. "@Anonymous 9:39am"really does not know what he talks about accusing Mantashe of failing to give proper leadership as a cause for infighting. S-G gave a lot of history of the ANC pre and post establishment up to the present events, and at no time he appeared lost or did not know his story. He alluded to many developments in history and currently where you can draw similarities. He praised the Youth Leaguers of 1944, who ended taking up leadership positions in the ANC including uMkhonto weSizwe as a "body of opinion in the ANC" that earned their stripes, without referring to their "birthdays" as their turn or right to lead! He said resentment of Communists by some in the ANC is as old as from the 1920's where President-General (PG) Josiah Gumede was expelled from the ANC after returning from a trip in Russia accompanied by Laguma, he claimed he had "seen a new Jerusalem!". @Joel clearly displays the same "rooi gevaar" (communist threat) as having taken over the ANC by this "Communist cabal" of cdes Blade Nzimande and Mantashe using JZ as their "useful idiot". Cde Joel, this sounds like a conspiracy theory that you and some YL defenders really believe in, but to me its hollow and sounding false alarm bells! I honestly don't think the SACP is about to take over running of the ANC and the country! They have enough of their own problems to manage this. In his address last nite Gwede touched on the "Group of 8" who opposed ANC policy of opening up membership to all races including whites and communists - this group started their "disruptive activities" in 1969 Morogoro congress but were only expelled in 1975. Your arguments subscribe to "false theory of persecution" of Malema and Youth League - they are not disciplined for bringing up issue of "Nationalisation" that one is old as the Freedom Charter, but for ill-discipline and they continue with it to this day! Mantashe said the "ANC does not just expel" and Julius and his YL NEC were "suspended for five years" but now they really face expulsion from what they continue saying and doing! It can't be true or a fact what Ronald Langa said yesterday, that "only the ANCYL elects or un-elects its leadership", that nobody would remove Julius Malema from his position "but the structures of the League". This is self-contradictory to him saying the YL will never operate outside ANC...they are confused! So are you cde Joel to actually believe the "communist danger" just as the boers used to brainwash all and sundry on "rooi-gevaar". Now, your analogy of "boiling a frog" really shows how inexperienced and lack of tactic this Malema and YL are on the issues! Imagine if they didn't go for mitigation, they would just serve the 5 years, but now with "Aggravation" to be submitted they face possible expulsion?
Proletariat, wrote
Malema and his accused need 2 be expelled totaly to the league bcoz they do not represent the needs of SA youth, they should b fighting for unemployment, corruption education, HIV Pandemic which are the major challenges of youth 2day. Instead they cross borders 4 things that hardly affect the youth. By the way what can Malema say abt coruption when hez on the list of the alleged culprits targeted by Madonsela. In this instance i must qoute Rev Tutu 'Juju u dont represent me' thou i dont identify much with the reverend z sentiments.
mark, wrote
The ANC created the sword that will cut them in half and destroy them. LOL time to reap your just rewards. If only the Police will then have the balls to prosecute all the corrupt politicians and get SA back on the road to proper economic recovery.
Anonymous, wrote
The problem within the ANC is Gwede Mantashe, He failed to give proper leadership, hence there is so much fightings within the movement.
Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
I think the ANC should not pay the ANCYL for 2 months - lets see how quickly they then nominate a new "leadership" - Just a suggestion .....
Joel, wrote
Gwede Mantashe should know that he is going out on a limb to threaten the ANC Youth League, when his position as ANC Secretary-General is already precarious. It is also interesting that Mantashe issues his threat against the Youth League at a meeting of the Young Communist League, which is a rival to the Youth League. The ANC Youth League has been right all along, Mantashe is conflicted as he is also Chairman of the South African Communist Party. It is clear that Mantashe sees the ANCYL as being dispensable and replaceable by the Young Communist League. Some of us warned before Polokwane that there was a real danger of the ANC being taken over by Communists. It now seems that a Communist cabal has now taken over the ANC, and the cabal is also behind Julius Malema's disciplinary hearing. Julius Malema's disciplinary hearing is not about him but about destroying the ANC Youth League, which through the years has defended the integrity of the ANC. The expulsion of Julius Malema is meant to clear the way for a complete takeover of the ANC led by Blade Nzimande and Gwede Mantashe.The SA Communist Party sees Jacob Zuma as a useful idiot in its quest to impose the SACP as the government of South Africa. If this generation of ANC Youth League fails to stand up and defend the ANC against the complete takeover of the ANC and the country, the future of the ANC and the country's democracy is doomed. While it seems contradictory that Julius Malema is being expelled from the ANC for advocating nationalisation, it goes back to that old saying of how to boil a frog. Julius Malema's approach of putting the frog in boiling water actually helps the frog to escape while Gwede Mantashe and Blade Nzimande put the frog in cold water and start heating the pot slowly. By the time the frog realises what is happening it will be then too late.
Anonymous, wrote
The ANCYL must get it clear that they are not a political party within a political party.If they think they ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO Stand on their own, let them leave the ANC and start their own party were they will do as they wish and will see how far they can g They are young boys who are bigheaded and bully who wants everything to go their way irrespective of whether it is right or wrong. I think the time have arrive for the ANC to push them out so that a better ANC can move forward. They are just a bunch of school leavers who dropped out of school and think they can run the country or hold the country ransom with their demands.They do not learn from other parties like DA,IFP and others who have YL but you will never hear their YL pushing to cut off their leaders heads.
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