ANCYL leaders charged for disrupting meeting: ANC

The ANC Youth League's top officials face charges related to bringing the ANC into disrepute and disrupting a meeting, says the ANC.

"The four officials have been charged with contravening rule 25.5 (q) and rule 25.5(o) of the constitution of the African National Congress," ANC national disciplinary committee chairman Derek Hanekom said in a statement on Wednesday.

The four included deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy, Kenetswe Mosenogi, and treasurer general Pule Mabe.

"The disciplinary matter concerning the four ANC members who are also national officials of the ANCYL is now in the hands of the ANC national disciplinary committee, which will henceforth deal with the date, venue and times of the hearings."

Rule 25.5 (o) of the ANC constitution relates to "prejudicing the integrity or repute of the organisation, its personnel or its operational capacity".

Rule 25.5 (q) relates to "deliberately disrupting meetings and interfering with the orderly functioning of the organisation".

"... the four members of the ANC will have an opportunity to defend themselves against these charges in a properly convened hearing.

"They will be entitled to be represented by a member of the ANC whose membership is in good standing," Hanekom said.

Lamola confirmed that the charges were served.

ANCYL president Julius Malema and spokesman Floyd Shivambu would face charges related to comments on helping to bring about regime change in Botswana. The pair are due before the ANC disciplinary committee on August 30 and 31.

Lamola declined to comment on the charges, referring questions on the detail to the ANC.

Last week, the ANC announced action against Malema and Shivambu.

"Comrade Julius Malema has been charged with various violations of the ANC constitution, including bringing the ANC into disrepute through his utterances and statements on Botswana and sowing divisions in the ranks of the African National Congress," Hanekom said at the time.

Malema recently said the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change, as it believed the government there was "in full cooperation with imperialists" and was undermining the "African agenda".

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe on Tuesday said the party would meet its league over the charges against Malema as requested by them.

The league was reportedly hoping to argue in Malema's defence that he was communicating a resolution of the ANCYL national executive committee and therefore the entire body should be charged, not just the president.

Last year, Malema pleaded guilty in an ANC disciplinary hearing after he publicly criticised President Jacob Zuma.

The national disciplinary committee at the time said that should Malema be found guilty of provoking serious divisions or a breakdown of unity in the organisation within the next two years, his membership of the ANC would be suspended.