BY Stephen Grootes

It is being reported embattled ANC Youth League President Julius Malema’s appeals panel descended into a war of wards on Thursday.

The panel eventually agreed to postpone the proceedings, after Malema and two other African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) leaders, Floyd Shivambu and Sindiso Magaqa, asked for a postponement and then hired a new lawyer.

The ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee ruled that Malema be expelled from the ANC six weeks ago. Malema was found guilty of sowing division in the ruling party and bringing it into disrepute.

The ANC’s appeals panel decided with both Malema’s new lawyer Musi Sikhakhane and ANC prosecutors that it would not hold any more hearings but would study written arguments.

While there was no official confirmation of what happened during the hearing, it was understood Malema himself grew angry as he argued that the hearing should be delayed.

Eventually the panel decided to allow Sikhakhane some time to come up to speed on the issues.

Sikhakhane was one of the lawyers who represented Malema during his hate speech trial in 2011.