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statement released yesterday said.
“The NDC dismissed comrade Julius Malema’s application to have the charges quashed,” chairperson of the NDC Derek Hanekom said. The NDC considered the appeal on Wednesday and Thursday after Malema made an application on Tuesday to have the disciplinary charges against him dropped.
“The NDC has decided to release the entire ruling to the media for the benefit of its members, its Alliance Partners and the general public,” he said.
The hearing would resume on Monday. Malema’s application detailed 22 arguments with the NDC answering against each of them. Malema argued that he was unaware of clauses in the ANC’s constitution that forbade him from making certain comments.
JULIUS MALEMA
The NDC found the constitution encompassed both actions and utterances, hence this argument was ill-founded. “On joining the ANC, the respondent undertook to observe discipline as set out in . . . the constitution. The respondent is also bound . . . to respect the constitution and defend the unity and integrity of the organisation and its principles and to combat any tendency towards disruption and factionalism,” the NDC stated. It argued that as a leader and member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC, Malema was in a position to have full knowledge and information of the policies of the ANC.
“The NDC (therefore) finds that the respondent was either aware of or ought to have been aware of the code of conduct in the ANC constitution governing misconduct.” After the announcement to the media that Malema’s appeal had been quashed, Youth League supporters sang louder than before. Protesters carried placards expressing contempt for President Jacob Zuma and support for Malema. Another read: “Apologies to our journalists, we wish you a speedy recovery – from ANCYL Alexandra branch”.
Meanwhile, president Zuma told security forces to take “very strong action” against those who trashed streets and assaulted people, as supporters of ANC Youth League president Julius Malema did outside the ANC’s Johannesburg headquarters this week, The Star reported on Friday. Zuma was addressing media at the end of his state visit to Norway.
When asked about the violent protests during the ANC disciplinary hearing against Malema, Zuma said he wanted to deal with the issue in general terms because he had not personally witnessed the Luthuli House protests, according to the report. “We don’t accept it. I don’t think it augurs well for democracy,” he said. – SAPA.
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