A FIREBRAND youth leader seen as a threat to Jacob Zuma’s hopes of re-election as South African president faces possible expulsion from the governing African National Congress.
Julius Malema, arguably the most colourful and divisive figure in South African politics, was charged with bringing the ANC into disrepute after calling for the overthrow of the democratically elected government of neighbouring Botswana.
Analysts believe the public disciplinary measures could reflect a desire by Mr Zuma and other party leaders to crush the youth league president, whose outbursts on topics such as race relations and nationalisation of the mining industry are a thorn in their side.
“Comrade Julius Malema has been charged with various violations of the ANC constitution, including bringing the ANC into disrepute through his utterances on Botswana and sowing divisions in the ranks,” the party said yesterday.
“Comrade Malema will have an opportunity to defend himself against these charges in a properly convened hearing. He will be entitled to be represented by a member of the ANC whose membership is in good standing.”
Sources close to Mr Malema (30) said the charges took him by surprise and added that senior ANC figures plan to push for his expulsion in two weeks.
The ANC fined Mr Malema 10,000 rand (€965) and ordered him to attend anger management classes last year after he was found guilty of undermining president Zuma. A disciplinary committee further ruled that if he was found guilty of dividing the party again within two years, his membership would be suspended.
The youth league announced three weeks ago plans to establish a “Botswana command team” to unite opposition against “the puppet regime” led by president Ian Khama. The statement was condemned by the ANC. Mr Malema issued a belated apology.
This was the latest in a series of incendiary statements by the populist youth leader, who branded a BBC journalist “a bloody agent” and threw him out of a press conference, and insisted that white South Africans should be treated as “criminals” for stealing land from black people.
He recently paid a €4,830 fine to People Opposing Women Abuse after being convicted of hate speech. – ( Guardianservice)