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South Africa's ANC sacks youth leader Julius Malema South Africa's ANC suspends youth leader Julius Malema
(about 1 hour later)
  
South Africa's governing ANC has found youth leader Julius Malema guilty of bringing the party into disrepute. South Africa's governing ANC has suspended youth leader Julius Malema from the party for five years.
He has been suspended from the party for five years and sacked as Youth League leader. He was found guilty of bringing the party into disrepute and asked to step down as youth league president.
Once a close ally of President Jacob Zuma, Mr Malema has become one of his strongest critics, accusing him of ignoring poor South Africans who helped bring him to power in 2009.Once a close ally of President Jacob Zuma, Mr Malema has become one of his strongest critics, accusing him of ignoring poor South Africans who helped bring him to power in 2009.
The BBC's Milton Nkosi says the verdict boosts Mr Zuma's re-election bid.The BBC's Milton Nkosi says the verdict boosts Mr Zuma's re-election bid.
Mr Malema wants Mr Zuma replaced as party leader ahead of the 2014 elections but our correspondent says it is now difficult to see how Mr Malema can affect the ANC leadership contest next year. Mr Malema wants Mr Zuma replaced as party leader ahead of the 2014 elections, but our correspondent says it is now difficult to see how Mr Malema can affect the ANC leadership contest next year.
The party celebrates its 100th anniversary in January 2012 and our correspondent says ANC officials are determined to show that this organisation will not be dictated to by a young, unruly leader. Mr Malema has said he will appeal against the ANC's decision to suspend him, reports eTV news.
His suspension is for calling for a change of government in neighbouring Botswana - a position which contravenes party and government policy. Mr Malema has 14 days to appeal, but was already suspended for his statements on Zimbabwe and so must vacate his position as Youth League leader immediately.
After Mr Malema's suspension, an ANC spokesperson said: "Disciplinary procedures are not meant to end anybody's political career, they are meant to correct behaviour."
The African National Congress finds itself at a crossroads on the eve of its centenary celebrations which are due to start in January next year. Derek Hanekom, the chairman of the ANC disciplinary committee, was very clear when he handed down the sentence Malema's violations were "unacceptable and serious".
What the ruling party has done with this ruling is to draw a line in the sand. Africa's oldest liberation movement is desperate to demonstrate that it's not in a tail-wagging-the-dog situation in its relationship with its youth wing. This is in many ways Jacob Zuma's victory in this long and bruising fight.
But the question remains - will Malema's suspension save President Zuma from his detractors within the broader structures of the ANC? They want to see him vacate the top job come next year when the party holds its leadership election.
The party celebrates its 100th anniversary in January 2012 and our correspondent says ANC officials are determined to show that the organisation will not be dictated to by a young, unruly leader.
Mr Malema was found guilty 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 three years ago.
Mr Malema has been cleared of sowing racism or political intolerance.
"Ill-discipline is not a cure for frustration," said Derek Hanekom, who led the disciplinary hearing."Ill-discipline is not a cure for frustration," said Derek Hanekom, who led the disciplinary hearing.
"Such disobedience undermined the effectiveness of the ANC.""Such disobedience undermined the effectiveness of the ANC."
There is tight security outside the ANC headquarters in central Johannesburg but no sign of the large crowds of ANC Youth League members seen when the hearing opened in August. There has been tight security outside the ANC headquarters in central Johannesburg, but no sign of the large crowds of ANC Youth League members seen when the hearing opened in August.
Thousands of Mr Malema's supporters clashed with police and some were seen burning T-shirts bearing Mr Zuma's face.Thousands of Mr Malema's supporters clashed with police and some were seen burning T-shirts bearing Mr Zuma's face.
Controversy
Mr Malema is a hugely divisive figure in South Africa after making a series of controversial statements.Mr Malema is a hugely divisive figure in South Africa after making a series of controversial statements.
He has previously been found guilty of using hate speech by singing an anti-apartheid song Shoot the Boer [white farmer], which has since been banned.He has previously been found guilty of using hate speech by singing an anti-apartheid song Shoot the Boer [white farmer], which has since been banned.
He once vowed to "kill for Zuma" and was also disciplined for saying a woman who said she had been raped by Mr Zuma had had "a nice time". Mr Zuma was acquitted of the charges.He once vowed to "kill for Zuma" and was also disciplined for saying a woman who said she had been raped by Mr Zuma had had "a nice time". Mr Zuma was acquitted of the charges.
In May 2010, he was made to apologise publicly following a controversial trip to Zimbabwe where he declared the ANC's support for President Mugabe at a time when Mr Zuma was mediating between the country's coalition members.In May 2010, he was made to apologise publicly following a controversial trip to Zimbabwe where he declared the ANC's support for President Mugabe at a time when Mr Zuma was mediating between the country's coalition members.
He is also being investigated by an anti-corruption unit over allegations of irregularities in the awarding of government contracts to companies in his home province of Limpopo. He denies any wrongdoing.He is also being investigated by an anti-corruption unit over allegations of irregularities in the awarding of government contracts to companies in his home province of Limpopo. He denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Malema has 14 days to appeal against the ANC sentence but was already suspended for his statements on Zimbabwe and so must vacate his position as Youth League leader immediately. On Thursday, Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu was also suspended for three years.
Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu was also suspended for three years. Mr Malema was doing a university exam in political studies on Thursday in his hometown of Polokwane and was not immediately available for comment.
Mr Malema was doing a university exam in political studies on Thursday in his home town of Polokwane and was not immediately available for comment.