Bloemfontein – The ANC Youth League will contest efforts by some to have its executive disbanded, Gauteng chairman Lebogang Maile said in Wednesday.

“I don’t think there is any basis to disband the executive,” Maile said on the sidelines of the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung.

A few delegates had proposed the idea during commissions on the African National Congress’s organisational renewal document.

However, it was “not a popular view”, Maile said.

“The ANC needs a strong youth league that is militant and outspoken. This will weaken the youth league,” Maile said.

ANCYL president Julius Malema was expelled from the organisation earlier this year. Spokesman Floyd Shivambu and secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa were suspended.

Since Malema’s departure the league had been led by deputy president Ronald Lamola.

Malema sent a letter to the ANC’s conference this week asking to get his job back.

Shivambu said on Monday that he, along with Malema and Magaqa, submitted the letter on Sunday to ask the party to “reverse the outcomes… that culminated in our suspensions and expulsion from the ANC”.

The three said they were willing to behave appropriately.

Maile said Malema had a right to appeal to the conference delegates to consider his situation.

“During the disciplinary hearings the leadership of the ANC kept saying they can bring it to conference (to appeal).” He said the issue would be tabled, but could not say whether delegates would be open to discussing it.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe on Wednesday said Malema’s letter was given to the conference too late, after the programme was adopted.

“It was too late,” Mantashe told reporters.

The matter had been “handled and was done” by the ANC’s disciplinary structures.

“It was exhausted and finished,” said Mantashe. – Sapah

ncome inequality was “a core challenge” facing South African society and it was important for all income earners to seek a “more equitable and more inclusive” economy where the benefits of economic growth were fairly distributed, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said yesterday.

He was responding to a question from Business Report, which asked him if it was not “hypocritical” for ministers, who earned nearly R2 million a year, to call on others to live on less in order to reduce inequality and flatten the Gini coefficient – the measure of income disparity, which in South Africa is reported to be the worst in the world.

Patel said one argument that came up in discussions over salary inequalities was that both public and private sectors needed to attract skills “from a pool that is globally mobile”.

Nevertheless, there was a recognition of “the vast gap” between the best and the lowest paid.

“Whether it is in the mining sector, or agriculture or indeed in the public sector… there is [recognition] of the vast gap between the top and bottom.”

At the time of the launch of the New Growth Path in 2010, Patel argued for an inflation peg on annual salary increases for those earning R540 000 or more a year.

He argued at the time that a modest increase above inflation was in order for employees earning between R3 000 and R20 000 a month.

blOEMFONTEIN – Disturbing details about a plot by four right-wingers to kill President Jacob Zuma and several other top government officials was made public on Tuesday.

Mark Trollip, John Keevy, Johan Prinsloo and Hein Boonzaaier were arrested over the weekend in connection with a plot to kill Zuma and other leaders at the ANC’s 53rd National Conference in Mangaung.

They face charges of treason, after allegedly plotting to overthrow the government and establish an independent Boer nation.

The families of the accused quietly observed court proceedings as evidence against the men was read out to Magistrate Monde Mahlaya.

Details heard in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court included a plan to fire mortar bombs on marquees housing ANC delegates at the party’s Mangaung conference and the execution-style murder of Zuma and some cabinet ministers during a dinner.

The court heard that the men had been plotting the attack since February.

But all the alleged planning was brought to an abrupt halt once the Free State police got wind of it from a tip-off and apprehended the men on Saturday.

Trollip was arrested on the road between Kimberley and Douglas in the Northern Cape, while Keevy was arrested at a guest house in Bloemfontein, Prinsloo in Springs and Boonzaaier in Centurion.

The accused will appear again in court on 8 January.

For more details go to ewn.co.za

Johannesburg – ANC bigwig Jackson Mthembu has lashed out at opposition leader Helen Zille, saying she is jealous of Jacob Zuma’s re-election to the helm of the ruling party.

“Remarks made by… Zille about the re-election of comrade President Jacob Zuma are nothing but political jealousy inspired by malicious desperation to have the same support enjoyed by the ANC in this country,” he said.

“The nature of the remarks… exposes Zille’s personal hatred of the ANC in her clumsy attempt to clamber the media attention given to the ANC conference.”

Her comments attempted to undermine the right and responsibility of ANC members to elect leaders to any positions of the movement, he said.

Earlier, Zille said the ANC’s national conference election results would hasten the “disintegration” and collapse of the ruling party.

“Many ANC members and many more ANC voters are feeling alienated by today’s decision in Mangaung.”

She believed it was a sad day for South Africa because Zuma’s re-election sent out a message that the ANC was a movement that put “powerful people” above the law.

She was referring to Zuma’s previous legal battle against corruption allegations, resulting from the fraud conviction of his former financial advisor Schabir Shaik.

In April 2009, the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the charges against Zuma, just months before he was elected into the country’s top post.

Zille said Zuma’s re-election also sent a message that “it is acceptable to use positions in government for personal enrichment, and not for public service”.

She was referring to a multi-million rand upgrade at Zuma’s Nkandla home.

The Western Cape premier stressed that Zuma’s lack of leadership on major policy questions would continue “as will the corruption and abuse of public resources that has so far characterised his time in office”.

Mthembu hit back, saying citizens should regard her remarks as acts of political despondency “with no political content.”

“Sadly, her statement is anchored on abundant false and wrong allegations against the president, the ANC and government,” he said.

“From the conference, the ANC will implement resolutions to help us attend to the all the challenges faced by the organisation and the country.”

Jackson said the depth of engagement in the party’s commissions would produce political thinking that would “pace and shape” the country.

“We don’t worry ourselves with whatever the DA and Helen say – we are more concerned about improving our performance, attending to challenges contesting our ability to deliver and lead society.

“While she takes a political tarry of jealous proportions, the ANC continues with the business of (the) conference, as matters being discussed are central in building better communities.” – Sapah

By Obakeng Maje

The Malawi National Team has arrived in Durban in preparation for the international friendly match against South Africa on Saturday, 22 December 2012 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 17h00.

Bafana Bafana are scheduled to land in Durban on Thursday morning.

The Malawians arrived with a 20-man squad, which boasts players like Robert Ng’ambi, Josephy Kamwendo, Atusaye Nyondo and Chiukepo Msowoya who are household names in South African soccer.

They held their first training session at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont and will have more training sessions throughout the week.

Malawi are ranked 101 in the FIFA rankings and 84 by CAF and are coached by Kinnah Phiri and assisted by Young Chimodzi.

Meanwhile tickets for this international friendly are selling at Computicket, Shoprite and Shoprite Checkers countrywide and fans are advised to purchase their tickets urgently.

They cost R100 for the West and East lower stands, while the North and South upper and lower stands are available at R50 each.

Malawi squad to face Bafana Bafana:

1. Simplex Nthala

2. Charles Swini

3. Limbikani Mzava

4. Moses Chavula

5. Harry Nyirenda

6. Foster Namwera

7. James Sangala

8. Steve Chagoma

9. Josephy Kamwendo

10. Chimango Kayira

11. Robert Ng’ambi

12. Dave Banda

13. Frank Banda

14. Micium Mhone

15. Atusaye Nyondo

16. Gabadinho Mhango

17. Zico Mkanda

18. Chiukepo Msowoya

19. Phillip Masiye

20. John Lanjesi

Technical Team1. Kinnah Phiri                         – Head Coach

2. Young Chimodzi                  – Assistant Coach