Malema hearing used to settle political scores

Johannesburg â€" A leaked e-mail has led the ANC Youth League to accuse its parent body of using disciplinary procedures to settle political scores, reports said yesterday.

Reports said this came after it was revealed at a disciplinary appeals committee this week that ANC "chief prosecutor" Uriel Abrahamse wrote an e-mail to his deputy, advocate Nomazotsho Memani, suggesting that the appeals should be heard before the ANC's centenary celebrations.

This was to prevent suspended league top officials at the centre of the appeals, who include league president Julius Malema, from sharing a stage with ANC president Jacob Zuma at the 8 January event.

Abrahamse reportedly wrote that the ANC had received information that Malema and his supporters were "busy with all sorts of shenanigans".

"They are busy printing T-shirts for 8 January, which carry the slogan 'Kgalema for president'" and "they are trying to mobilise the ANCYL structures through the country in support of this campaign".

The league wants the committee, chaired by national executive committee member Cyril Ramaphosa, to overturn the suspensions because of political interference.

They wrote to ANC secretary Gwede Mantashe saying: ". . . Section 25.2 of the ANC constitution forbids disciplinary actions that are meant to settle political scores or with intentions to stifle debate in the [ANC]."

In the letter, written by league deputy president Ronald Lamola, they also want Abrahamse removed from the hearings.

Malema, Lamola, league treasurer Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and spokesperson Floyd Shivambu were suspended for party offences, which include threatening to support regime change in Botswana.