ANCYL withdraws 'Botswana Command Team'

The ANC Youth League has withdrawn its commitment to the establishment of a "Botswana Command Team", the league says.

"We withdraw the statement and apologise because we note that the leadership of the ANC took serious exception... and classified that statement as transgression of ANC constitution and policies," ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu said.

The league would discuss internal political and ideological considerations that caused them to make the statement with the intention of establishing common ground with the African National Congress.

"As the newly elected leadership of the ANCYL , we are looking forward to engaging with the leadership of the ANC to thoroughly comprehend the rules of engagement and how we take up issues, particularly on the public discourse," he said in a statement.

During the ANCYL national executive committee in Boksburg on July 31, president Julius Malema said the league would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties.

"Botswana is in full co-operation with imperialists...and the government is undermining the African agenda," he said.

The ANC postponed a meeting with the ANCYL on Monday to discuss possible disciplinary action to be taken about the comments.

ANC members that would have been present at that meeting included President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, his deputy Thandi Modise, ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa and chairwoman Baleka Mbete.

Mantashe said the meeting was postponed because they realised that some of the issues they intended on raising with the ANCYL were transgressions which could lead to disciplinary action.