S.Africa’s ANC party rebel Malema loses appeal

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) rejected an appeal

from political rebel Julius Malema on Tuesday, cementing his expulsion from the party and President Jacob Zuma’s re-election

prospects for 2014.

Malema, a vocal Zuma opponent and leader of the party’s powerful

youth wing, appears to have exhausted all his options after months of appeals since a disciplinary charge last

year.

The ANC’s disciplinary appeals committee said in a statement it had dismissed Malema’s latest petition,

confirming an earlier decision to expel him from the party.

Two of Malema’s allies in the ANC Youth League also lost

similar appeals, but were suspended from the party, not expelled.

The ANC said in a separate statement it had been a

“difficult and painful decision” to subject Malema to discipline.

Despite the seemingly harsh punishment, the party

appeared to leave the open the possibility of his eventual return.

“Many of those who have been subjected to the same

process and sanction have in turn learnt from their mistakes and have become better members,” the ANC said.

“We

believe the same is possible for… Julius Malema.”

Malema, one of the best orators in the ANC, has won wide

popularity among poor South African youth with his calls for nationalisation of mines and seizure of white-owned

land.

He was suspended from the ANC last year for sowing division in the party, but was allowed to stay in his post

pending the outcome of his appeals.

Following the charges, Malema ratcheted up his criticism of Zuma and even mocked

him at public rallies. The ANC retaliated by turning its original sentence of a five-year suspension into

expulsion.

Although not an elected official, Malema was seen as something of a king-maker within the party given his

large support base among young people, as well as the youth league’s reputation as a training ground for future

leaders.