ANCYL 'publicly' condemns the ANC...

The division which arose within ANC ranks, following President Jacob Zuma’s public reprimand of the ANCYL president, takes on new meaning if regard is had to the alleged response of the youth league to a purported decision to charge Julius Malema.

In accordance with reports in both the Sunday Times and City Press, Malema has either been notified that he will be charged or has already “received his charges on Wednesday from Mantashe’s office”.

The charges purportedly include promoting racism, sexism, tribal chauvinism, religious and political intolerance with a youth league delegation, headed by Malema, allegedly meeting the ANC’s top six officials at Luthuli House on Monday, to discuss the disciplinary process.

The charges allegedly relate to Malema bringing the ANC and the government into disrepute by publicly endorsing Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party and attacking the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, remarking that former president Thabo Mbeki never rebuked the youth league publicly when he disagreed with it, unlike President Jacob Zuma, publicly stating after Eugene Terre’Blanche’s murder, that the AWB leader died before changing his racist behaviour and for his aggressive behaviour towards BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, publicly calling him a “bastard” and “bloody agent”.

In respect of each it is of interest to note the president’s stance : In Zimbabwe he is the mediator who cannot be seen to be taking sides. In terms of Mbeki, a president who always remained dignified despite outrageous abuse from Malema, the ANCYL president is deliberately using the name of Zuma’s bitter rival for the presidency to undermine him. Along the lines of “not even Mbeki” did this to us.

In respect of Terre’Blanche the president had met with leaders of the Afrikaans community with regard to their fears over the singing of the “shoot the boer” song and visited an informal settlement over Easter. Throughout Malema continued to refuse to listen to the court order or ANC directive. On the BBC correspondent Zuma had committed the country to media freedom just days before, as well as visited Britain — where ties were strengthened despite having his youth league president screaming nationalisation throughout the trip.

Accordingly to say that Zuma is being undermined is like saying that the iceberg hit by the Titanic could have been bad for boating. Moreover, and as highlighted above, it is done both systematically and publicly. Yet when Zuma recently reprimanded Malema in public certain members of the ANC said that this was an internal matter.

Perhaps they’ve been studying “Vatican Methods of Dealing with Public Outrage 101” — that’s a disaster as well.

On Sunday the ANC refused to confirm the media reports stating that it is not a matter for the public or media but rather an internal matter of the ANC — no doubt pursuant to the criticism of the anti-public faction.

And here is where it gets creepy.

According to the Sunday Times :

“An SMS, purporting to come from youth league spokesman Floyd Shivambu, informed the league’s provincial structures that Malema had been charged for ill discipline by the ANC and urged them to release statements in his defence to the media.”

The text message read :

“ANC outgoing secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has written a letter to ANC Youth League president charging him with ill discipline for speaking on behalf of the youth league on revolutionary songs, expression of shock with the public condemnation and BBC journalist incident. Provinces are requested to release statements in defence of the president. Please target your local media.”

“Shivambu yesterday denied sending the SMS, adding he had ‘no knowledge’ of Malema being charged.” (Sunday Times)

Yet City Press confirm that several ANC youth league leaders confirmed the existence of the letter — Mantashe to Malema — and told how the ANCYL spokesperson, Floyd Shivambu, had informed provincial leaders that the ANC had charged Malema with undisciplined behaviour.

Provinces were requested to support Malema by issuing media statements. (City Press)

Accordingly and having drummed up support within the ANC for criticism of Zuma for his public rebuke of Malema, the ANCYL are actively campaigning for as much publicity as they can manage to condemn the disciplinary procedures which they demand that the ANC deal with as an internal matter.

Relating to charges that arise from Malema repeatedly and publicly bringing the ANC and the government into disrepute.

As John McEnroe told the umpire : “You cannot be serious!”