South Africa's ANC confirms youth leader Malema not yet suspended

Feb 6, 2012, 15:01 GMT

Johannesburg - South Africa's African National Congress confirmed on Monday that its Youth League leader Julius Malema had not yet been suspended from the ruling party.

'There should be no confusion. We have decided to delay everything from kicking in until the processes are completed,' ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said. 'We will wait two weeks for the mitigation,' he added.

Malema lost an internal party appeal on Saturday. Along with four other top members of the Youth League the flamboyant leader had been found guilty last year of sowing division within the ANC and bringing the party into disrepute.

The Youth League leader faces a possible five-year suspension.

The league has historically played an important role in influencing party policy and behind the scenes a battle has already begun for Malema's influential post.

Malema has stoked racial tensions, called for regime change in neighbouring Botswana and also unnerved foreign investors with his repeated calls for nationalization. His allies have said the charges against him are politically motivated.

But few analysts believe Malema will manage to beat the suspension and remain influential nationally. His political career may also take further hits, as financial authorities investigate him for tax offences and corruption allegations.