An anti-Julius Malema group in his hometown of Seshego, Limpopo, welcomed on Wednesday morning news of the ANC Youth League leader's expulsion, according to a report.
“This is the news we have been waiting for,” the group's spokesman, Boy Mamabolo, told SABC radio news.
“We are happy that Malema has finally been expelled. He has been running the youth league as if it is a family trust,” said Malema's political rival.
He said the group was planning to hold celebrations later on Wednesday.
Mamabolo was part of a group that held its own ANC Youth League provincial elective conference at the weekend, a parallel event to the main conference that happened at the same time.
In February, clashes broke out between Malema's security staff and an anti-Malema group outside his grandmother's home in Seshego, when the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) announced his expulsion from the party.
Malema was originally suspended for five years for sowing division in the party and for bringing it into disrepute.
He was found to have done so by unfavourably comparing the leadership style of President Jacob Zuma to that of former president Thabo Mbeki, and for remarks on bringing about regime change in Botswana.
He unsuccessfully appealed, but was granted leave to present evidence in mitigation to the NDC. However, on February 29 it announced that the sanction against him had been changed to an expulsion.
He again appealed and it was this appeal that the NDCA dismissed on Tuesday. – Sapa