Malema should be expelled - war vets

Johannesburg - ANC Youth League president Julius Malema should be summarily expelled from the ANC, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) said on Tuesday.

"Julius Malema thinks he is bigger than the ANC," MKMVA national chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe told reporters in Johannesburg.

"He has fed on the media frenzy against the liberation movement, casting doubt and aspersions on the ability of the ANC to formulate policies and govern South Africa, in favour of all its citizens."

However, the MKMVA respected the party's internal process and was not trying to prejudice the disciplinary process Malema was facing.

Malema is appealing his expulsion by the African National Congress national disciplinary committee.

'Attack on Zuma an attack on ANC'

On Friday, Malema criticised Zuma's leadership during a centenary lecture in Johannesburg.

He said Zuma had replaced democracy with dictatorship and that the ANCYL was being traumatised and suppressed under Zuma's leadership.

Maphatsoe said the attack on Zuma was an attack on the ANC, because Zuma was the face of the party.

"Once you attack the leader of the ANC you attack the ANC," he said.

Maphatsoe said the MKMVA had kept quiet on the issue of Malema until now because it thought Malema would come to his senses and start respecting the ANC and its leadership.

"We can't keep quiet when he [Malema] keeps uttering statements against the ANC and the ANC leadership," he said.

"We need a militant youth league, but also a disciplined youth league."

The MKMVA has written to the ANC's national executive committee regarding Malema's expulsion, said Maphatsoe.