Malema arrives at Eastern Cape church

Former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

Former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

Published Apr 6, 2012

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Suspended ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has arrived at a church in the Eastern Cape accompanied by a VIP unit, according to a report on Friday.

He was expected to speak at the Twelve Apostles' Church in Christ in Butterworth, the SABC reported.

This move could be seen as the first sign of his defying his temporary suspension from the ANC.

In a statement on Thursday, ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu said: “In celebrating Easter Friday and commemorating the life of Solomon Mahlangu, president Julius Malema will visit the Twelve Apostles' Church in Christ in Butterworth.”

Malema was visiting the church in his capacity as league president, Shivambu said. Mahlangu was an Umkhonto we Sizwe soldier hanged by the apartheid government in 1979.

On Wednesday, Malema was gagged and temporarily suspended by the ANC's national disciplinary committee (NDC), a move which forbids him exercising any duty as an ANC member, president of the ANCYL or member of the Limpopo provincial executive committee.

Malema's temporary suspension from the party followed comments he made at a centenary lecture at the University of the Witwatersrand last Friday. Malema called ANC President Jacob Zuma a dictator and said he was suppressing the ANCYL.

The ANCYL leader was informed on Wednesday morning of his immediate temporary suspension, and that the NDC would bring disciplinary proceedings against him.

The NDC had instituted special measures because of Malema's repeated behaviour. Malema is appealing his expulsion from the ANC for sowing division in the party and for bringing it into disrepute.

The appeals hearing was expected to take place on April 12.

The two disciplinary proceedings are separate. - Sapa

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