Malema appeal underway

ANC youth league leader Julius Malema's lawyers have received correspondence from the ruling party's national disciplinary committee of appeals.

Advocate Patrick Mtshaulana told Sapa he received correspondence acknowledging receipt of Malema's letter of appeals last Friday, including directives.

However, it remained unclear when a pronouncement on Malema's fate would be made, he said.

ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said there had been no new developments since the committee received the appeal.

Malema appealed to the committee, chaired by senior ANC leader and businessman Cyril Ramaphosa, on the night when the deadline was due to expire on November 24.

The committee reportedly met on the sidelines of a national executive committee meeting two weeks ago, to thrash out preliminary matters in the appeals process.

Some within the ruling party reportedly want the matter finalised before the party's centenary celebration in Mangaung in January.

Malema faces a five-year suspension from the ANC for sowing division and bringing the party into disrepute.

Youth league spokesman Floyd Shivambu, who was found guilty for swearing at a journalist and responding to an ANC statement condemning the league's call for regime change in Botswana, wants his three-year suspension over similar charges reversed.

Other ANCYL executive committee members -- Malema's deputy Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi, and treasurer Pule Mabe -- were also appealing a suspended sentence for storming a meeting of ANC officials.

They cried foul soon after the verdict was handed down, complaining that the disciplinary process was biased against them.

Malema told journalists after his suspension that the national disciplinary committee relied on the league's old constitution to reach its decision.

The old constitution stated that ANC discipline applied to the league.

Some youth members have accused Malema of having changed the constitution to discredit the findings of a disciplinary hearing.

Malema maintained the constitution was amended at the league's conference in June.

He said this meant that the sentence from the ANC was not binding.