The top five leaders of the ANC Youth League are facing disciplinary action taken by the ANC, league deputy president Ronald Lamola confirmed on Wednesday.
Lamola confirmed that in addition to ANCYL president Julius Malema, the league's remaining four leaders had also been charged by the mother body.
This included Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy, Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer general Pule Mabe.
ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu is also facing charges related to comments made by the league on helping to bring about regime change in Botswana.
Lamola declined to comment on the charges, referring questions on the detail to the ANC.
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu had no knowledge of the charges.
ANC national disciplinary committee chairman, Derek Hanekom, could not immediately be reached for comment.
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,” 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”.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe on Tuesday said the party would meet its league over the charges against Malema as requested by them.
The league was reportedly hoping to argue in Malema's defence that he was communicating a resolution of the ANCYL national executive committee and therefore the entire body should be charged, not just the president.
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