ANC dismisses Malema’s appeal against suspension

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress suspended its fiery youth leader Julius Malema yesterday, dismissing his appeal against a disciplinary finding and quashing one of President Jacob Zuma’s biggest headaches.

The decision by the ANC’s disciplinary appeals committee to throw out Malema’s bid to have his guilty verdict overturned threatens to derail the political career of one of the country’s most controversial figures, and cements Zuma’s position in the ANC ahead of party elections in December.

Speaking to a packed and sweltering press conference at ANC headquarters in central Johannesburg, the appeals committee’s chair, influential businessman Cyril Ramaphosa, hammered home the importance of discipline in the former anti-apartheid movement that has ruled South Africa since 1994.

“Discipline is one of the key pillars in the life of the ANC. It is an important pillar that has been solidified over many, many years and decades,” Ramaphosa said.

The ANC said the ruling meant Malema, 30, was suspended with immediate effect, stripping him of his post as ANC Youth League president.

Malema was slapped with the sentence in November last year on charges that included provoking divisions in the party and damaging its image.

Five other top youth league officials suspended alongside him also had their appeals thrown out.