Malema defiant at ANC expulsion in South Africa
Pretoria, 01 Mar – (ANA) - Julius Malema has come out fighting after being expelled from South Africa's ruling ANC - saying: "I will die for what I believe in".
The African National Congress rejected his appeal against a five-year suspension for sowing divisions. Clashes broke out overnight between Mr Malema's supporters and his critics in his home town Polokwane. Once a close ally of President Jacob Zuma, Mr Malema, 30, is now one of his strongest critics. Mr Malema says he is being persecuted for advocating that the party should adopt a policy to nationalise mines, and replace Mr Zuma as its leader. But his combative, populist style had angered many in the party, correspondents say. Mr Malema was found guilty in November of three of the four charges brought against him, which included disrupting a national ANC meeting, and of bringing the party into disrepute by calling for regime change in democratic Botswana - a position which contravenes party and government policy.
He was also found guilty of provoking serious divisions within the party by praising Thabo Mbeki, who was sacked as party leader and then ousted as South Africa's president by the ANC in 2008. Mr Malema was cleared of sowing racism or political intolerance. (ANA)
FA/ANA/01 March 2012----------