Youth League wants Malema reinstated

Johannesburg  Julius Malema will continue as leader of the youth wing of South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress Youth League said, defying a decision of the ANC that expelled him last month.

Africa's oldest political party ousted Malema, 31, for sowing division and damaging its reputation, stripping him of the leadership of the youth wing and barring him from addressing ANC rallies and attending party meetings. The ANC appeals body on April 25 confirmed a decision of the disciplinary committee to expel Malema.

While Malema won't be able to carry out his duties, he remains president of the Youth League in name, Ronald Lamola, the group's deputy president, told reporters yesterday in Johannesburg after a meeting of its national executive committee. The youth wing disagrees with the decision to expel Malema and demands that he be reinstated, Lamola said.

"The NEC [National Executive Council], therefore, calls on the leadership of the ANC to decisively intervene and provide a political solution on the unprecedented outcome of the NDCA [National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals] and demand immediate reinstatement of our leaders," the Youth League said in a statement.

ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu and Secretary-General Sindiso Magaqa were suspended by the disciplinary committee for similar offences.

Malema, who led a campaign to nationalise South Africa's mines, was disciplined for insulting senior members and calling for the overthrow of the government in neighbouring Botswana. Before his expulsion he pushed to block President Jacob Zuma, whom he called a dictator, from winning a second term as the party's and country's leader.

Malema can only have his expulsion overturned by the NEC or a national conference in December.