JOHANNESBURG South Africas ruling ANC wants to close the book on renegade youth leader Julius Malema, but analysts warned yesterday his expulsion could still rock President Jacob Zumas re-election drive.
The African National Congress (ANC) appeals panel late Tuesday rejected Malemas pleas to allow him to keep his party card, after he was booted out for fomenting divisions within its ranks.
This outcome brings to finality a matter that has been under way for more than nine months, party spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement. The difficult and painful decision had been necessary in the defence of the organisation, he said.
Malema has yet to comment on the decision, but a recording on his cellphones voice mail told his supporters: Never surrender, never retreat, victory is certain.
At the end of everything else, we will not remember the words uttered by the enemies against us, but will remember the silence of our friends during these difficult times, said the message, according to The Star newspaper.
The partys internal battles with Malema are the most visible face of the ANCs leadership contest, leading up to its elective conference in December when Zuma will seek another term as chief.
If Zuma comes out on top at the leadership conference, he is almost assured of a second term as South Africas president, given the ANCs huge support among voters.
Malema has already indicated that he would plead his case at the leadership conference, where the partys one million members could give their say. The backdrop to all of this is December, and theres nothing in this to suggest that Malema has given up the fight, his biographer Fiona Forde told AFP.
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Its not impossible that he can make a comeback. Malema is very politically astute.
Malema was a key ally when Zuma rose to power, once boasting that he was ready to kill for Zuma and ousting former president Thabo Mbeki at the partys previous leadership vote in 2007.
Just like Mbeki, Zuma has since lost touch with the South African sidewalk, said Forde.
Hes as disconnected from the rank and file as his predecessor was, she said.
Malema appealed to South Africas poor who have yet to enjoy the benefits of democracy.
Eighteen years after the end of white-minority rule, about 40% of the population still lives in poverty, with unemployment at nearly 24%.
They were Malemas audience when he called to nationalise mines and banks, or to seize white-owned farms policies that he advocated even after the mother party had rejected them.
Zuma also rode to power on promises to help the poor, but during his time in office has stuck to free-market policies, moving to fight unemployment by spending billions of dollars on big infrastructure projects that he says will shore up the economy.
