ohannesburg - ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema was found guilty of provoking divisions within the ruling party and of bringing the organisation into disrepute on Thursday, and was suspended for five years. He will vacate his position.
His statements on Botswana were "reckless" and brought the ANC into disrepute, the party's national disciplinary committee chairperson Derek Hanekom said.
This was after Malema said earlier this year the ANCYL would send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties and help bring about regime change there.
Malema later apologised for the remarks, but they were widely believed to have caused serious diplomatic embarrassment for the ANC.
Malema was found not guilty on a third charge of inciting racial hatred and inflaming divisions in the country.
He was earlier on Thursday found guilty of interrupting a meeting of national ruling party officials that included President Jacob Zuma.
That guilty finding related to Malema, ANCYL deputy president Ronald Lamola, treasurer general Pule Mabe, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and deputy secretary general Kenetswe Mosenogi.
On that charge, the group was suspended from the ruling party for two years on Thursday. The sanction was suspended for three years.
Next step, investigate his tenders.
