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Troubled times may lie ahead as divisions grow
Today Julius Malema, president of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) will be fighting for his political life when he faces a disciplinary hearing in Johannesburg amidst growing divisions. At the same time, while the country could be heading into turbulent waters, it is ironic that the captains of the ship are not here.
President Zuma left on Monday for a state visit to Norway that ends on Thursday, while Deputy President Kgalema Mothlante has left for Guinea Bissau. If anything happens, it will now be up to Acting President Jeff Radebe to keep order.
But, the extent to which Malema and his colleagues understand the depth of the trouble they are in is clear from their reaction since disciplinary charges were brought against Malema and five others.
Their reaction has ranged from publicly apologising for the Botswana statement that angered the senior ANC leadership, to barging in uninvited at a meeting of the top six ANC leaders, launching a public attack on President Jacob Zuma over the weekend, organising a mass demonstration, pleading with the ANC for a “political” settlement and now calling in the help of God and the church.
But equally so President Zuma and the leadership of the parent ANC know they also have serious trouble on their hands. They face a possible youth revolt if stern action is taken against Malema and his colleagues. They also know the issue has divided the senior ANC’s leadership and could tear the organisation apart.
But they also know letting Malema get away with his recent actions and behaviour will backfire badly on them, especially on Zuma and any hopes he may have for serving a second term as president. For the senior leadership it is a no-win situation: regardless of which direction the hearing takes or the outcome, it will anger a part of the broader ANC alliance.
Even if the hearings go by peacefully in the streets around Luthuli House in Braamfontein, Johannesburg the impact of the drama is likely to linger for some time to come. How things play out for Malema in the longer run might largely depend on how the various investigations into his alleged shady tender- and business dealings unfold in the months ahead.
Malema appears today before the ANC’s disciplinary committee chaired by Derek Hanekom. Last year he also appeared before it on similar charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute, sowing divisions and contravening its constitution. The suspended sentence he was given then could now lead to his suspension or expulsion from the ANC if again found guilty.
Meanwhile the national ANC leadership faces open revolt from ANC leaders in at least one province. And, the seriousness of the situation is clear from the marathon meetings senior ANC leaders have held recently to discuss the ANCYL leadership and the disciplinary hearings.
The divisions that have appeared in the ANC run far and wide. Last week the Eastern Cape Youth League failed to send a delegation to Johannesburg where ANCYL leaders from all the other provinces gathered to discuss a strategy to defend and support Malema. Eastern Cape Youth League leader Ayanda Matiti some months ago had been snubbed by the Malema camp. The Eastern Cape ANCYL leadership also has good relations with the province’s senior ANC leaders, who in turn are politically aligned with Zuma.
At the other end of the spectrum however, City Press reported it has an audio recording made last week in which senior Limpopo ANC leaders aligned to Malema are heard telling league members to revolt against the senior ANC leadership for bringing misconduct charges against Malema.
At an emergency Youth League meeting in Limpopo last Tuesday, Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale, finance MEC David Masondo, Capricorn mayor Lawrence Mapoulo, ANC Women’s League provincial secretary Maleka Mokganyetse and businessman Jacques Nell endorsed the league’s defiance campaign to force Luthuli House to drop charges against Julius Malema.
More signs of the divisions were evident over the weekend. The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MVA) has come out strongly against the ANCYL’s planned mass march to ANC headquarters at Luthuli House today, with MVA chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe calling on the ANCYL to call off the march.
This could develop into an extremely explosive situation, which might see the police having to keep two formations within the ANC apart.
Yet in contrast to the MVA, the ANC minister responsible for MVA affairs, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu, this weekend came out in support of Malema, telling him “we love you” and saying the ANC would protect him. Sisulu was speaking at the same gala dinner for women at which Malema launched a scathing but indirect attack on Zuma.
And, as ANCYL provincial structures started bussing in supporters to show solidarity with Malema and the other four leaders, ANC spokesman Brian Sokutu also appealed to them not to stage a demonstration outside Luthuli House, saying this would be tantamount to undermining the party’s constitution. But provincial leaders were adamant they would go ahead.
Meanwhile Malema, accompanied by another ANCYL leader facing a hearing, treasurer-general Pule Mabe, over the weekend professed his innocence to the congregation at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pimville, Soweto, saying he and his fellow ANCYL leaders had not committed any “crime” but only called for South Africa’s wealth to be shared. For that, he said, the league is hated and attacked from all sides, and “even those who are supposed to be our liberators are joining the chorus of those that don’t want to share”.
In a bizarre display of emotional support for Malema, four pastors and the congregants prayed loudly and passionately for Malema and Mabe, with congregants shouting “Amen” and “Yes”.
Malema will appear today, while the outspoken league spokesman, Floyd Shivambu, will come before the disciplinary committee on Wednesday, and deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and Mabe are to appear on Thursday.
Meanwhile, apart from the support shown to him by some factions and individuals in the ANC, the only breather these last few days for Malema has been a report that several corruption probes by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, including that of Malema, have been temporarily halted due to lack of funds. Meanwhile, the ANCYL, the ANC and indeed the entire country nervously awaits the outcome of today’s hearing.
