The ANC appeal committee wrapped up ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema's appeal hearing on Tuesday and said a decision would be made in “due course”.
“The 1/8National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA) 3/8 has met for two days to listen to submissions from both the African National Congress and the ANC Youth League,” NDCA chairman Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement.
“Having heard both sides, the NDCA will be making its decision in due course.”
Earlier, a veil of silence was drawn over the hearing, with party spokesmen saying they had been instructed not to comment.
“The media have been kept out and we don't know anything about it. The media might receive information once the hearing is completed,” spokesman Keith Khoza said on Monday.
Ramaphosa heard oral arguments at the hearing. Malema's lawyers submitted heads of argument last week.
At the time, advocate Patrick Mtshaulana said these detailed why Malema's five-year suspension should be overturned.
Malema and other senior ANCYL leaders were suspended in November after being found guilty of sowing division within the ANC and of bringing the party into disrepute. This was due to, among other things, comments about bringing about regime change in Botswana.
Heads of argument were also filed for league spokesman Floyd Shivambu, deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi.
Mtshaulana said they would try to convince Ramaphosa that they had not been given a chance to argue in mitigation of their sentences.
They would also argue that disciplinary committee members, including chairman Derek Hanekom and Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, should have recused themselves from the disciplinary committee which dealt with the matter.
This was because they had previously publicly disagreed with the ANCYL's positions on land reform and nationalisation of mines. They would further submit that the verdict and sanctions relied on an outdated section of the ANCYL constitution. - Sapa