Four more ANC Youth League officials have been charged with bringing the ruling party into disrepute, it was reported on Wednesday.
The Mail & Guardian Online and SABC radio reported that the ANCYL's deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy, Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer general Pule Mabe would face charges alongside its president Julius Malema and spokesman Floyd Shivambu.
The reports quoted four “highly placed sources” within the African National Congress Youth League.
ANCYL spokeswoman Magdalene Moonsamy said she was not in a position to comment on the reports.
“I think this is a process that belongs to the ANC. Let's wait for some communication from the ANC's side,” she said.
ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said he was trying to confirm the reports.
Derek Hanekom, the chairman of the ANC's national disciplinary committee in the case against Malema and Shivambu, was not immediately reachable on Wednesday morning.
The Mail and Guardian Online reported that the four ANCYL officials were charged shortly after an ANC media briefing on Tuesday.
Last week, the ANC announced action against Malema and Shivambu.
“Comrade Julius Malema has been charged with various violations of the ANC constitution, including bringing the ANC into disrepute through his utterances and statements on Botswana and sowing divisions in the ranks of the African National Congress,” said Hanekom said at the time.
Malema recently said the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change, as it believed the government there was “in full co-operation with imperialists” and was undermining the “African agenda”.
Last year, Malema pleaded guilty in an ANC disciplinary hearing after he publicly criticised President Jacob Zuma.
The national disciplinary committee at the time said that should Malema be found guilty of provoking serious divisions or a break-down of unity in the organisation within the next two years, his membership of the ANC would be suspended. - Sapa