President Jacob Zuma will not comment on the African National Congress (ANC) disciplinary committee's findings which led to the suspension of the ANC Youth League's top six officials, including its president Julius Malema.
"The presidency is not going to make a comment on those issues," presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said on Friday, adding that they had been dealt with by the ANC.
One of the charges Malema, his deputy Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi were found guilty of related to their barging into a meeting where Zuma and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe were present.
"The respondents, as senior leaders of the ANC Youth League, should have realised the security risk their action posed," disciplinary committee chairperson Derek Hanekom said on Thursday.
"In this regard, the misconduct of the respondents is regarded as a serious offence," he said.
For this, they received a two year suspension of their ANC membership, suspended for three years.
Magaqa also received an 18-month suspension for a derogatory statement about Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba and was ordered to publicly apologise to Gigaba within five days.
ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu's membership was suspended for three years.
He was ordered to vacate his office for swearing at a journalist and for issuing a statement that the ANCYL intended supporting moves to change the government of Botswana, which the ANC said was against its policies.
Malema was disciplined for his statement that "there is a temptation by the coloniser and the imperialist to want to re-colonise Africa in a different but sophisticated way -- and president [Thabo] Mbeki stood directly opposed to that type of conduct".
The committee found that although Zuma was not named, it could be inferred from the statement that the administrations following Mbeki's had abandoned the "African agenda".
It portrayed the current ANC leadership and the government in a negative light.
Malema was also disciplined for his comment that: "The ANCYL would establish a 'Botswana command team' which will work towards uniting all opposition forces in Botswana to oppose the puppet regime of Botswana led by the Botswana Democratic Party".
The disciplinary committee found that the statement was against ANC policy and impacted negatively on South Africa's relationships with Botswana, with the region and with the African Union.
Malema's overall suspension was for five years and he had to vacate his office. He was given 14 days to appeal.
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