Spin doctor lashes 'propagandists'

22 November 2011 - 02:02 By Sapa
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Suspended ANCYL KwaZulu-Natal treasurer Yolanda Young, chairman Mthandeni Dlungwane and deputy secretary Siboniso Duma have accused Julius Malema of being a fraud Picture: THULI DLAMINI
Suspended ANCYL KwaZulu-Natal treasurer Yolanda Young, chairman Mthandeni Dlungwane and deputy secretary Siboniso Duma have accused Julius Malema of being a fraud Picture: THULI DLAMINI

Accusations that the ANC Youth League leadership changed its constitution to discredit the findings of the ANC disciplinary committee's hearings were propaganda, league spokesman Magdalene Moonsamy said.

On Sunday, Mthandeni Dlungwane, a member of the league's disbanded KwaZulu-Natal executive, said Julius Malema and his friends had fabricated amendments to the constitution to save his political career. His comments came after Malema told reporters in Johannesburg that the ANC's disciplinary committee's verdict and sanctions against the league's leadership referred to an outdated section of the constitution.

Malema said section 11.2 of the league's constitution was amended and adopted at its 24th national congress in June this year.

The amendment reads: "A person who has been found guilty by an ANC disciplinary proceeding resulting in ... suspension, temporary forfeiture of membership rights or expulsion . shall be subjected to the internal inquiry by the corresponding disciplinary structures of the ANC Youth League."

This meant that the ANC's disciplinary committee's sentence was not binding on its leaders.

Moonsamy said those who accused the leadership of changing the league's constitution were propagandists.

She said the amendment was proposed at the league's national congress and there were no objections from delegates.

City Press reported on Sunday that 12 youth league leaders had denied the amendment was discussed or voted on at the congress.

Moonsamy said it would only have been voted on if there had been objections.

"The resolution was adopted at the congress," she said.

Moonsamy said objections to the amendment could only be tabled at the league's congress in 2014 .

Malema said the amendment was made because branches, regions and provinces of the ANC were using the constitution to expel members of the league from the ANC with the "vicious intention of removing them" from the league.

Malema, spokesman Floyd Shivambu, deputy leader Ronald Lamola, treasurer-general Pule Mabe, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, and deputy secretary-general Kenetswe Mosenogi were sanctioned by the disciplinary committee on Thursday last week.

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