Malema disciplinary hearing shows up ANC divisions

Phosa, ANC treasurer-general, appeared for Malema despite weekend efforts to find a 'neutral' figure outside the party to defend him, notes the report. It says Phosa resisted these efforts. Phosa's appearance in Malema's corner also fuels speculation that others in the party's top six have tried to extricate themselves from the decision to discipline Malema. And Phosa's backing of Malema suggests President Jacob Zuma does not enjoy unanimous support at the top of the party in trying to bring Malema to order. Full Business Day report

Malema appeared despite denials by the Youth League that he would be there. Committee chairperson Derek Hanekom confirmed 'he (Malema) was present; he was represented by Mathews Phosa,' said Hanekom, who is also an ANC national executive committee member and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. A report on the News24 site notes the hearing lasted until 16:30 and was adjourned to Tuesday next week. The hearing is reportedly tackling Malema's singing of an anti-apartheid song with the lyrics 'shoot the boer', calling a BBC journalist a 'bastard' and 'bloody agent' and undermining SA's role as a mediator in Zimbabwe. ANC spokesperson Brian Sokutu said the organisation would not be commenting on the matter at least until the disciplinary hearing had run its course. Full report on the News24 site

The proceedings started on a heated note and ended with a victory of sorts for Malema. He objected to the presence of Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu and Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Collins Chabane, according to a report in The Times. The paper says it understands that Phosa argued that Shabangu's presence was not appropriate because she had previously differed publicly with Malema over calls for the nationalisation of mines. It says Shabangu left the meeting without any objection. But Chabane, who is regarded by Malema as a rival because the Minister has close ties with the Youth League president's political foes in Limpopo, initially refused to recuse himself. The report quotes insiders as saying he eventually gave in when Malema insisted he was not happy with the Minister's involvement in the hearing. This leaves Hanekom, Zuma's parliamentary adviser Ayanda Dlodlo, High Commissioner to the UK Zola Skweyiya and former ANC Youth League activist Febe Potgieter-Gqubule to hear the case against Malema. Prior to the start of yesterday's proceedings, the disciplinary committee held discussions with the top six ANC leaders at which the charges against Malema were presented. Full report in The Times

The ANCYL is claiming the hearing could not go on because no complainant was present. According to a Beeld report, Hanekom was unable to establish who submitted the complaints about Malema's conduct. Full Beeld report

The irony of Malema's hearing falling on World Press Freedom Day was noted by the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) , given that his attack on BBC journalist Jonah Fisher at a press conference was one of the matters supposedly at issue. 'However, it appears that the hearing will not deal with his audacious action of spying on the media, perhaps the most sinister attack on press freedom since the advent of constitutional democracy in our country,' said Sanef, according to a report in The Citizen. Full report in The Citizen See also a report in Die Burger