Malema starts purge

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has begun purging the organisation of his rivals ahead of the party's elective conference next year.

Members spearheading a revolt against Malema now face disciplinary action and possible expulsion from the league.

With two of the league's national executive committee members already axed since Friday, senior members in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo are anticipating similar action against them for defying Malema's rule and for supporting his rivals.

Malema's former ally and close friend, Lehlogonolo Masoga, was expelled from the league yesterday.

This followed Friday's axing of fellow NEC member Stella Ndabeni during a special meeting. There were no formal disciplinary proceedings against her.

Masoga's expulsion - "pre-determined" according to court papers - follows his conviction on Friday for "grave and serious offences", including creating divisions and provoking a breakdown of unity within the ranks of the league.

Masoga led a walk-out during a chaotic Limpopo conference in April and is regarded as a threat to Malema's re-election.

"This is exactly what I expected. It was common knowledge that this would be the sanction," said Masoga yesterday.

He said he would consult his lawyers, the Limpopo provincial executive committee and leadership of both the ANC and the league before taking further action.

Masoga's expulsion has been condemned by league members, with one leader who wished not to be named for fear of suffering the same fate, saying: "Only a few days after ANC leaders approached Masoga to halt court action, the youth league expels him. This is shocking."

At least two more suspensions are believed to be on the cards. The Times has learned that one is Malema's deputy and 2011 presidential candidate Andile Lungisa.

"We are anticipating a string of disciplinary hearings and expulsions on unwarranted grounds, but we are ready for it. There's going to be a war within the youth league," said an Eastern Cape ANC leader.

The insider said Ndabeni was alerted to her suspension days before she was told of it, and Lungisa, too, was on Malema's "hit list".

"They will not catch us with our pants down ... they are playing dirty tricks," he said.

Lungisa was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Eastern Cape League chairman Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the provincial executive committee was "quite unhappy" with recent developments and would support Ndabeni as her axing had "completely shaken us".

League spokesman Floyd Shivambu dispelled talks of further suspensions as "complete lies", but in the same breath said: "All members who have been found to violate the constitution of the ANCYL will face disciplinary action."

Shivambu said the action against Masoga and Ndabeni was warranted - not because they defied Malema, but because of league rules.

"It is not about Malema, but about the ANCYL," he said.

Ndabeni, who is also an ANC whip in the National Assembly's committee on defence and military veterans, was shown the door during a special NEC meeting on Friday night after the Malema-controlled body passed a vote of no confidence against her.

They alleged that an affidavit she submitted in support of Masoga's court challenge last week contained "lies" and that they could not trust her anymore.

In her affidavit, Ndabeni claimed that Masoga's expulsion was a "forgone conclusion" on instruction from Malema.

A second affidavit by another top official - whose identity is known to The Times - which is to be used in Masoga's appeal later this week, talks of a plot to oust all those who oppose Malema in his quest to be re-elected.

"The disciplinary process against Mr Masoga is a smoke- screen for a broader political strategy. Mr Malema is using the disciplinary process to purge his political opponents from the ANCYL.

"This is a form of abuse of power on its own, which deserves censure from the court," the official said.

"The decision is primarily a political decision consistent with a national trend spearheaded by Malema.

"I believe that his leadership record has been abysmal. Mr Malema's entire term of office has been characterised by factional tendencies and instances of gross abuse of power."

The affidavit says these views are shared by the majority of league members in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

"Basically, in my assessment Mr Malema refuses to be engaged in a fair contest for political power. Instead, he intimidates, rigs elections and threatens."

ANC spokesman Ismael Mnisi refused to comment on the matter, saying they preferred dealing with it internally.

Malema's chances of re-election as president next year have taken huge knocks with party strongholds in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West believed to be intent on voting him out.