- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Protests mar hearing of ANC youth leader Julius Malema
- Date: 31st August 2011
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (AUGUST 30, 2011) (REUTERS) NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING: "NO DEAL, ANC TELLS MALEMA" ANC YOUTH LEAGUE SUPPORTERS PROTESTING WITH PLACARDS READING: "MALEMA: WE ARE NOT SCARED" VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS SINGING AND CHANTING, CARRYING MALEMA PLACARDS VARIOUS OF POLICE BLOCKING SUPPORTERS MORE OF SUPPORTERS WITH PLACARDS READING: "HANDS OFF OUR LEADER" AND SETTING THINGS ON FIRE SUPPORTERS THROWING TRASH ON THE STREET POLICE SPRAYING WATER CANNON ON SUPPORTERS MORE OF POLICE BLOCKING SUPPORTERS POLICE PUSHING SUPPORTERS AWAY AND FIRING RUBBER BULLETS MORE OF POLICE FIRING WITH WATER CANNON SUPPORTERS THROWING STONES AT POLICE POLICE FIRING RUBBER BULLETS SUPPORTERS HOLDING PLACARD READING: "WE DON'T WANT LEADERS WITH HUNDRED WIVES AND 1000 KIDS LIKE PIGS (ZUMA)" PEOPLE WATCHING SUPPORTERS BURNING T-SHIRT BEARING A PHOTOGRAPH OF PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA'S FACE
- Embargoed: 15th September 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa, South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Crime,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAEHN77QFRNQDXWI5WPZO479EZ1
- Story Text: South African police used stun grenades and water cannon on Tuesday (August 30) to disperse supporters of controversial ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, who faces a party disciplinary hearing that could derail his political career.
Scores of Malema supporters hurled rocks and beer bottles at police, burned African National Congress (ANC) flags and posters of President Jacob Zuma outside the party headquarters in central Johannesburg, live television pictures showed.
If found guilty of sowing discord in party ranks by the hearing -- Malema's second disciplinary hearing in just over a year -- the firebrand youth leader could be suspended from the party for several years.
This would silence his calls for nationalisation of the mining sector, to the relief of investors, but would anger thousands of his supporters.
The hearing is as risky for Zuma, who hopes to be re-elected ANC leader at a party meeting in December 2012, as it is for Malema, who party insiders say ultimately wants the country's top job.
Some Malema supporters burned T-shirts bearing Zuma's face and singing songs about ending Zuma's leadership.
Zuma rose to power with Malema's backing but his rivals have since courted Malema to seize control of the ANC. If Malema is suspended, Zuma can likely thwart his rivals but if the youth leader is exonerated, the president could be fighting for political survival.
The disciplinary panel is led by senior ANC member Derek Hanekom and includes mines minister Susan Shabangu, who has criticised Malema's calls for nationalisation.
Malema, 30, and the top five members of the youth wing have been charged with sowing division in the party that has ruled South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994.
The charges also include bringing the ANC into disrepute by calling for an overthrow of the elected government in neighbouring Botswana.
On the eve of Tuesday's hearing, a defiant Malema told reporters the League's push to nationalise mines could not be suppressed by his removal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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