Malema membership issue up to Mantashe: Spokesman

Reported problems with Julius Malema's ANC membership were the domain of party secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, a spokesman said on Monday.

"I am not aware that Malema had not paid for his membership, but should this be true it means he was not a member in good standing," Keith Khoza said.

"I can't speculate about what's going to happen now. It is up to the secretary-general to advise on the matter."

Malema, who is facing a five-year suspension from the party, last paid his R12 annual membership fee on July 14, 2009, according to The Times newspaper.

Failure to pay would mean a member would be barred from party activities. Khoza said, ideally, Malema would have received a reminder that his membership would expire. He would have been given a grace period before his membership lapsed.

On Monday, ANC Youth League spokeswoman Magdelene Moonsamy said the league would not comment on the matter.

Asked why, she replied: "Because we just don't want to comment".

Malema told The Times it was news to him that his membership had not been renewed.

Malema is appealing his suspension as ANCYL president.

A ruling on the matter would be made "in due course", appeals committee chairman Cyril Ramaphosa said last week.