Malema defies suspension conditions

Former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

Former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

Published Apr 6, 2012

Share

Suspended ANC Youth League president Julius Malema addressed the congregation at a Good Friday church service in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, according to a report.

This was despite being barred from doing so as per the conditions of his temporary suspension from the ANC.

The SABC reported that Malema had spoken out against what he called “individuals trying to silence him” at a second church service which he had attended.

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.”

Mahlangu was an Umkhonto we Sizwe soldier hanged by the apartheid government in 1979.

Malema was visiting the church in his capacity as league president, Shivambu said.

He said Malema had not spoken at the Twelve Apostles' Church in Christ, but the embattled youth league leader had reportedly attended a second church service, where he did speak.

This was Malema's first public appearance since the suspension.

According to the SABC he was accompanied by members of the ANCYL's national executive committee, the provincial executive and National Youth Development Agency chairman, Andile Lungisa.

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

Related Topics: