Business Day
*Malema rival axed in spite of 'deal' with Mantashe* *Sibongakonke Shoba, Business Day, Johannesburg, 20 July 2010*THE African National Congress (ANC) Youth League yesterday expelled a rival to its president Julius Malema, in defiance of a deal --- brokered just days earlier by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe --- that was meant to bring peace to the league's opposing factions.
The expulsion with immediate effect of Lehlogonolo Masoga, who like Mr Malema hails from Limpopo, is likely to fuel tension in the league.
Last week the parent body intervened and tried to strike a deal between the league and Mr Masoga after Mr Masoga took the league to court.
Yesterday's expulsion means the ANC's attempts to intervene have failed.Aggrieved members of the league could resort to nonpolitical means such as court action and protests to resolve their disputes with the league's leadership. The league's rival factions --- those supporting Mr Malema and those who want him replaced by his deputy, Andile Lungisa --- have failed to find political solutions and as a result some of the disputes have been decided by the courts.
Mr Masoga's charges relate to a chaotic elective conference in Limpopo in April where he was controversially replaced as provincial chairman by Mr Malema's ally Frans Moswane. Mr Masoga and his supporters walked out of the conference and convened their own gathering.
The league's national executive committee then accused Mr Masoga of creating divisions and undermining the organisation, and began a disciplinary hearing against him.
Mr Masoga initially approached the South Gauteng High Court after he was charged to prevent the league from going ahead with the disciplinary process. He claimed the process was aimed at making sure he was expelled.
After the ANC's intervention, Mr Masoga withdrew his court application, saying he would seek a political solution.
But sources close to Mr Masoga said the league rejected a proposal to reconvene the Limpopo conference, and instead went ahead with the disciplinary process.
Mr Masoga said yesterday he would consult within the league and the ANC before deciding his next move.
"I can't comment at the moment. I still need to solicit opinions in the ANC and the youth league," he said.
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said the party would discuss the matter with the league first before making any comment. "We have not spoken to the youth league so I wouldn't like to comment for now. We will comment at an appropriate time," he said.
Mr Masoga could appeal to the league's national executive committee. But the executive has been accused by supporters of Mr Lungisa of siding with Mr Malema in several disputes, so it is unlikely that it would overturn the decision of the disciplinary committee.
If Mr Masoga is not satisfied with the executive, he could appeal to the ANC's national general council, which is expected to meet next month.
*[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>* *From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=115240* /With comments/ -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
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