Michelle Pietersen
JULIUS Malema’s disciplinary hearing has been adjourned for two weeks until October 6, when more witnesses will testify in his defence before argument is heard on October 8.
Sources close to Malema’s defence said there was nothing sinister about the postponement, announced by the ANC’s national disciplinary committee yesterday, and was due to the availability of witnesses and others involved in the hearings.
Malema and the ANC Youth League’s (ANCYL) national executive committee met at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters yesterday for the first time since its special meeting in the wake of the announcement that Malema and league spokesman Floyd Shivambu would be charged with misconduct.
The Star understands the league’s “political programme of action” was on the agenda.
Malema appeared before the disciplinary committee on Saturday, and was said to have defended himself “very, very well”. His charges include sowing divisions within the party and bringing it into disrepute.
His ally, former youth league president Fikile Mbalula, now the sports minister, was among four witnesses who testified in his defence at the weekend.
Sources said Mbalula’s testimony centred on the historical nature of the ANCYL, in an attempt to prove the actions and utterances of Malema and his co-accused could not be considered different from those made by former league leaders.
ANC heavyweights Tokyo Sexwale, Tony Yengeni, former league secretary general Rapu Molekane and former Gauteng housing MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro are also expected to testify.
The ANC was said to have finalised its case. Mantashe topped the list of ANC witnesses, which included ANC national spokesman Jackson Mthembu and ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete.
While it was expected that Malema’s defence would call at least 20 witnesses, The Star understands that this number might be reduced to avoid time-consuming repetition.