* Malema seen as hurdle to President Zuma’s re-election
* Analysts see little chance of Malema winning appeal
By Jon Herskovitz
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 16 (Reuters) – The appeal that will
decide the future of South African firebrand Julius Malema
starts next week, with analysts saying it will likely uphold a
five-year suspension from the ruling party that would send the
youth leader into the political wilderness.
Malema, who rose to prominence with calls to nationalise
mines and seize white-owned farm land, is fighting for his
political life after an African National Congress (ANC)
disciplinary committee in November found him guilty of bringing
the party into disrepute and expelled him for five years.
The appeal will begin on Jan. 23, a senior ANC official said
on Monday. Malema, 30, is also facing a criminal probe that is
looking into his finances. He has been able to stay in the party
pending the appeal.
If the panel made up of senior ANC officials upholds the
previous sentence, Malema, 30, would be stripped of his position
as president of the ANC Youth League and ostracised by the party
the dominates politics in Africa’s largest economy.
Analysts expect the appeal panel to uphold the previous
decision and Malema has said he sees himself as “finished
politically”.
The panel’s decision is expected in the next few weeks.
Continued…
