[ 2011-09-03 ]

ANC adjourns Malema disciplinary hearing
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South Africa's ruling ANC has
adjourned the disciplinary hearing against youth
leader Julius Malema until next Sunday, it said in
a statement on Saturday.

The case had been set to resume on Monday after
the ANC's national disciplinary committee on
Friday turned down a bid to have it thrown out.

Malema, an outspoken 30-year-old whose racially
charged rhetoric has made him one of South
Africa's most controversial figures, faces
internal charges of "sowing divisions" in the
African National congress and bringing the party
into disrepute.

The statement said that "arguments will be heard
on 11 September 2011 and a finding handed down in
due course."

Three days had been set aside for the completion
of the hearing, said the statement. It justified
the delay the "availability of parties to the
hearing".

The charge of sowing divisions comes after media
reports linking Malema to a movement to oust
President Jacob Zuma as party leader.

Zuma is hoping to be re-elected at the party's
polls next year that will allow him to stand for a
second term as president in the country's national
elections in 2014.

The youth league would like to see him replaced by
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe -- a change
that would almost certainly make Motlanthe South
Africa's next leader.

Malema was found guilty of criticising Zuma in
another ANC disciplinary hearing last year, and
faces possible expulsion from the party if found
guilty again.

The charge of bringing the ANC into disrepute
stems from his call last month for regime change
in neighbouring Botswana. Malema later apologised
for the remarks after a public rebuke from the
ANC.

Despite his political base among impoverished
blacks, Malema has become known for enjoying the
high life. He lives in the upmarket Johannesburg
neighbourhood of Sandton, wears a Breitling watch
and has a taste for fast cars.

His wealth became the subject of a police
investigation after a local newspaper reported he
was the beneficiary of a trust fund that allegedly
received kickbacks from businesses that won
valuable government tenders.

Source - AFP

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