The IFP Youth Brigade has welcomed with reservation the judgement and decision announced today by the ANC Disciplinary Committee to suspend Julius Malema.
The judgement vindicates the IFPYB previous calls for action to be taken against Mr Malema. We believe, however, that the decision to suspend Mr Malema for five years is not real action and a little too late.
The ANC leadership has stood idly by while Mr Malema has insulted the President of the IFP, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. They stood idly by even when Mr Malema threatened to invade the home of Prince Buthelezi. They have stood idly by as Mr Malema contributed to the loss of confidence in the South Africa economy with his irresponsible, reckless and senseless calls for nationalisation. We regret that the ANC leadership did not rein Mr Malema in when his actions and tirades did not directly affect them, but that they only acted once the monster they created came home to bite.
The IFPYB believes that time will tell whether the punishment handed out today will fit the crime. We regret that a compulsory course on civility, good manners and economics 101 was not included.
We are adopting a wait and see attitude as we are curious to see if Mr Malema will comply with the letter and spirit of his suspension. We are, however, not holding our breath.
Earluier today ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema, was found guilty of provoking divisions within the ruling party and of bringing the organisation into disrepute and suspended for five years. He will vacate his position.
His statements on Botswana were “reckless” and brought the ANC into disrepute, the party’s national disciplinary committee chairperson Derek Hanekom said.
This was after Malema said earlier this year the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change there.
Malema later apologised for the remarks, but they were widely believed to have caused serious diplomatic embarrassment for the ANC.
Malema was found not guilty on a third charge of inciting racial hatred and inflaming divisions in the country.
He was earlier on Thursday found guilty of interrupting a meeting of national ruling party officials that included President Jacob Zuma.
That guilty finding related to Malema, ANCYL deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi.
On that charge, the group was suspended from the ruling party for two years on Thursday. The sanction was suspended for three years.
