 Malema loses again Julius Malema's attempts to punch holes into the ANC's disciplinary hearing case suffered yet another blow yesterday. Malema took issue with the national disciplinary committee headed by Derek Hanekom, saying that it breached the party's constitution by releasing its findings to the media after he had launched an application to have the charges quashed. Yesterday, the disciplinary committee found against Malema.  The committee said information leaked to the media might have created confusion, and that Malema had not suffered prejudice. While Malema continues battling with the ANC, his supporters remained defiant. A mobile text message was sent out yesterday urging league members to come out in numbers to the disciplinary hearing in Kliprivier Recreation Centre, south of Johannesburg, to support their embattle leader. The hearing was moved from Luthuli House, the ANC HQ in downtown Johannesburg, after rioting by members of the league when Malema appeared before the committee two weeks ago. The text message read: "Today the [disciplinary committee] continues at Kliprivier Recreation Centre. "[Today] it will be the Gauteng High Court judgment on the hate speech, let's go there in our numbers and [to] the [disciplinary committee] for president will then continue on Tuesday [tomorrow]. "We must pull all, we can go to Kliprivier as early as possible in our numbers." According to a league member in Gauteng, the province has decided to withdraw its public support for Malema. "As host province of the disciplinary hearing, we were expected to be visible in big numbers, but the situation is such that members fear being victimised by the ANC and a possible visit from NIA [National Intelligence Agency]," said a league insider. But Limpopo, Malema's home province, is still resolute in its support for the league president. "But we have changed our tactic in light of the attacks from the media and the ANC," said a Limpopo ANCYL member. Today will be a big day for the embattled youth leader, with the Johannesburg High Court expected to decide whether his singing of the controversial Shoot the Boer song is hate speech. Afriforum said it will appeal should the judge not rule in its favour. Analysts said that even if Malema won the case, that, would not save him from a "rough disciplinary process". Adam Habib, a political analyst, said it "would count against Malema if he loses [the case] but won't count in his favour if he wins". "[A guilty verdict] would add to the opinion in the ANC that the suggested disciplinary steps should be taken against Malema." Analyst Daniel Silke said that, if Malema won the hate-speechcase it "would not be enough to rescue him from a rough disciplinary process". Yesterday, there was a heavy police presence outside the hearing. The police repeatedly threatened journalists outside the hall. 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] . |
