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This is a war. In a war, never expect red roses: Malema

A defiant Julius Malema has thrown down the gauntlet, daring President Jacob Zuma to fire him and stopping just short of calling for a nationwide youth rebellion.

Speaking yesterday - a day before his re-appearance at an ANC national disciplinary committee (NDC) this morning - Malema told his supporters in Setjwetla, an informal settlement in Johannesburg's Alexandra township, that the ANC Youth League would "never kneel and ask for forgiveness".

"There is no crime we have committed ... They should know that we will never ask for forgiveness.

"This is a war. In a war, never expect red roses, and in a war there are casualties. But we can guarantee that we will win," Malema said.

Malema, youth league deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer Pule Mabe will know this morning if the NDC has found them guilty of barging into a meeting of ANC bosses without permission last month.

The firebrand youth leader will then spend the next three days answering three more charges - relating to his calling for a "regime change" in Botswana; calling white people thieves; and bemoaning the lack of strong leadership in Africa since the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki.

Although the ANC has kept the venue for the disciplinary hearing secret, the Sunday Times understands that it will be held in Kliprivier, south of Johannesburg.

If found guilty, Malema could be expelled or suspended for a lengthy period from the ANC.

But yesterday he was in no mood to repent, vowing to fight the ANC leadership to the end.

"Anybody who says we have contravened an ANC policy by saying they [whites] have stolen the land, they must tell us which policy we contravened.

"If we have come to the end, let it be so. If you are angry with Julius, don't destroy the ANC Youth League. It doesn't belong to Julius ... but because you do not come from the youth league, because you are myopic and you know nothing about the politics of the ANC, you want to destroy the work of Nelson Mandela," he said.

He suggested that ANC leaders were taking action against him because he wanted economic transformation.

"Because we are saying we are going to take from white minority and give to black majority ... they assure whites that this person who is leading the struggle, we will remove so that you continue accumulating wealth.

"Instead of defending economic freedom, they have kept us in a room [where the disciplinary hearing is being held].

"We cannot do anything, we are arrested, we must explain ourselves in some small room. The revolution is undermined by air-conditioned small rooms."

He told the crowd that the ANC would cleanse itself next year when new leaders, who would champion the issues of the poor, were elected.

"In 2012, the ANC will correct itself and elect good leaders," he said.

He urged the poor to protest against unemployment and lack of service delivery.

"On the birthday of OR Tambo, organise marches throughout the country. March demanding jobs and houses," he said.

When he appeared before the NDC two weeks ago, Malema was equally defiant.

According to insiders, he told the hearing that he knew that members of the NDC had been "instructed" by senior leaders of the ANC to expel him.

Malema's camp is planning to call as many witnesses as possible to defend him against possible expulsion or suspension.

"This will not be an easy process. We are going to call more than 20 witnesses including senior ANC leaders and branch members," an insider in Malema's group said.

If he loses this week, Malema's plan is to approach the ANC national executive committee for support, hoping it will overturn the ruling.

Malema will go into his hearing this morning having scored a minor political victory over Zuma after the cabinet expressed displeasure about the Botswana government's recognition of Libya's national transitional council .

While Malema has been charged for ill-discipline for advocating "regime change" to remove Botswana's "puppet" government, he found allies in the cabinet on Wednesday.

The Minister of International Relations, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, briefed the cabinet about Botswana's decision to break ranks with the African Union position not to recognise the Libyan council as the country's interim administration.

Apparently cabinet members were angry about Botswana's move, although the cabinet released only a mild statement restating South Africa's commitment to the AU's road map on Libya.

The Sunday Times has learnt that some cabinet members felt Malema had been vindicated on his statement about Botswana working with the Americans.

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu rejected as "nonsense" speculation that senior ANC leaders wanted Malema suspended.

"We are not a kangaroo organisation. Why would he be appearing before a DC [if the case had already been decided?] Malema will get an opportunity to explain himself.

"Not even the NDC knows what the outcome will be because that is dependent on the evidence."

He would not speculate on what sanction Malema would face if he were found guilty.

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