The on-off disciplinary hearing of ANC youth league leader Julius Malema is expected to resume on Saturday with the testimony of Tokyo Sexwale, ANC national executive committee (NEC) member and Human Settlements minister.
Saturday’s sitting will be the fifth since the disciplinary committee chaired by Derek Hanekom, also Science and Technology Deputy Minister, began proceedings on August 30. The sitting scheduled for October 6 to 8 was postponed after Malema was hospitalised for flu-like symptoms. He was discharged from a private hospital in Polokwane last week.
Sexwale, who is due to speak about how disciplinary matters are handled in the party, this week reportedly appealed for mercy for Malema.
“When you are young you go wrong – we fix you and you go wrong again and we fix you, not to destroy you,” according to Dispatch Online.
Earlier this month, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who stood at Malema’s side during the hate speech equality court case on the lyrics Dubul’ iBhunu (Shoot the Boer), said “no other leader of the youth has gone through what you have”.
Sexwale’s comments have been seen as nailing his colours to the mast amid the unofficial lobbying for positions prior to the party’s elective conference in Mangaung next December.
This comes in the wake of the not-well-kept secret that the youth league is pushing for Mbalula to replace secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and for deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to take the top post. Motlanthe has denied this.
On Friday, it was not clear whether proceedings would be wrapped up as other witnesses including Madikizela-Mandela and ANC NEC member Tony Yengeni, may also testify. - Saturday Star