South Africa: Julius Malema expelled from ANC after losing appeal

JOHANNESBURG — South African youth leader Julius Malema has been expelled from the ruling African National Congress party.

This time for good — we think.

The ANC's national disciplinary committee of appeals confirmed Malema's expulsion late Tuesday, an apparent end to months of drama over the outspoken youth leader's place within the party.

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Malema was expelled from the ANC last month after being found guilty of bringing the party into disrepute. But has been allowed to continue as president of the ANC youth league during the appeals process.

The latest ruling means that Malema is, with immediate effect, no longer president of the ANC Youth League.

"In respect of the present disciplinary hearing, the NDCA [ANC National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal] confirms the sanction imposed by the NDC [National Disciplinary Committee] that the appellant be expelled from the ANC," a statement said.

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The ruling also dismissed an appeal by youth league spokesman Floyd Shivambu, but rejected an increase of his suspension from the ANC to five years, instead maintaining it at three years.

In November, Malema was found guilty of "sowing divisions" in the party and “bringing the ANC into disrepute" by calling for Botswana's democratically elected president to be overthrown.

Earlier this month the ANC banned Malema from all party meetings and activities, and barred him from making public statements about ANC matters, after he called South African President Jacob Zuma a "dictator" during a speech at Johannesburg's Wits University.

Malema's comments constituted a "very serious violation" of the party's constitution, the ANC's disciplinary committee said in a statement at the time.

Malema and the ANC youth league's support was instrumental in bringing Zuma to power in 2007, but the two have since fallen out.

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