The Limpopo ANC Youth League is preparing to expel members who were seen celebrating Julius Malema’s downfall outside his grandmother’s house.
The new youth league officials, who were elected at a conference at the weekend, are contemplating charging Boy Mamabolo and his associates.
Mamabolo is a former childhood friend-turned-foe of Malema’s. The conference elected Malema’s allies, Rudzani Ludere and Jacob Lebogo, respectively, as chairman and secretary.
What had angered the new youth league appointees were celebrations held in Malema’s hometown of Seshego, where his detractors carried a coffin and a replica of a tombstone, signifying his political death.
Last month, a celebration turned ugly when a shootout involving Malema’s supporters, the police and Mamabolo’s group broke out. No serious injuries were reported.
The confrontation occurred when a group led by Mamabolo marched towards Malema’s grandmother’s house while carrying the tombstone. But now the youth league wants the ANC to charge party members who had joined anti-Malema celebrations.
“As the ANCYL in Limpopo, we are also going to look at the possibility of charging those who were part of that circus, those who are members of the youth league,” said Ludere.
He criticised the ANC, saying it had kept quiet when Malema’s grandmother was “disrespected”.
“That family has been abused. The president’s family have been undermined and disrespected.
“The ANC has decided to remain silent in the midst of these inhumane actions,” Ludere said.
But ANC provincial spokesman Makonde Mathivha yesterday said the party had condemned the incidents.
Concerning charging ANC members, Mathivha said: “We can’t rule out that possibility, but we have to be orderly.”
Responding to the threats, Mamabolo remained defiant. At the weekend, he was elected chairman at a parallel conference held in Seshego.
“They can’t charge us. We have suspended Lebogo and Ludere with immediate effect,” he said.
He said he would write a letter to the provincial ANC executive to inform it of the “newly elected (youth) leadership”.
“We can’t work with them because we don’t recognise them. We can’t be seen to be rubbing shoulders with them,” he said.
The emerging different factions in the youth league reflects the ANC as a party that is at war with itself. Mamabolo backs Jacob Zuma for a second term as ANC president, while Malema’s allies want his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, to take over.
Mamabolo was also hoping the ANC national executive committee would disband the ANC provincial structure.
But Mathivha dismissed Mamabolo as a confused young man, while Ludere said the league was not concerned about Mamabolo.
“This includes everybody who was part of that (celebration). The last time I checked, Boy was not even a member,” said Ludere.
“We are saying that a member of the ANC, and that old lady is a member of the ANC, was harassed by people who claim to be members of the ANC.” - The Star