Embattled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema will know the outcome of his appeal hearing on Saturday, February 04, 2012.
The ANC's national disciplinary committee of appeal (NDCA) would hold a media briefing at the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters, in Johannesburg, on Saturday morning, its chairman Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement.
Last month, Malema's defence team presented oral arguments to the NDCA detailing why Malema's five-year suspension from the ANC should be overturned, advocate Patrick Mtshaulana said.
Malema and other senior ANCYL leaders were suspended after being found guilty of sowing division within the ANC and of bringing the party into disrepute.
This was partly a result of comments made on bringing about regime change in Botswana.
ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu, who was suspended for three years, and deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer-general Pule Mabe, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi, were also appealing their suspensions.
Part of the ANCYL's defence was to try and convince Ramaphosa that they had not been given a chance to argue in mitigation of their sentences.
They were also going to argue that disciplinary committee members, including chairman Derek Hanekom and Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, should have recused themselves.
This was because they had previously publicly disagreed with the ANCYL's positions on land reform and the nationalisation of mines.
They would further submit that the verdict and sanctions relied on an outdated section of the ANCYL constitution.
Should they lose, Malema and his executive could refer the matter to the ANC's national executive committee, they could seek to have the elective conference in Mangaung review the suspensions, or could head to the courts. - Sapa