By David Dolan
JOHANNESBURG Jan 23 (Reuters) – An appeal that will
determine the future of South African political rebel Julius
Malema started on Monday, giving the firebrand a last chance to
retain his influential position in the ruling African National
Congress (ANC).
Malema, head of the ANC’s Youth League, rose to prominence
with calls to nationalise mines and seize white-owned land. He
is now fighting for political survival after being suspended by
the ANC in November for five years for bringing the party into
disrepute.
His appeal, which local media have said is likely to focus
on procedural details, will be decided in the next few weeks.
Analysts expect the appeals committee chaired by ANC veteran and
prominent businessman Cyril Ramaphosa to uphold the suspension.
Malema, who is also facing a criminal probe into his
finances, kept a low profile on Monday and it was not clear
whether he attended the appeal hearing at ANC headquarters in
central Johannesburg, which was heavily guarded by police.
His usual crowd of supporters was notably absent. Malema has
roused thousands of South African youths to march for jobs and
nationalisation, but on Monday his only visible support was a
lone protester wrapped in chains and holding a sign: “There is
no case here, just shackles”.
Malema remains a party member while his appeal is pending,
but in the two months since his suspension was announced he has
stepped up his attacks on President Jacob Zuma, whose path to
re-election as head of the ANC, and the country, could get
complicated if Malema is still in the party.
While the 30-year-old holds no elected office, he commands
considerable support among young South Africans and in his home
province of Limpopo.
At a political conference in Limpopo last month Malema
openly mocked Zuma, calling him “the shower man” – a reference
to a 2006 rape trial, in which he was acquitted.
Continued…
