JOHANNESBURG, Sept 2 (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling ANC
is expected to decide on Friday whether to drop disciplinary
charges that could derail the career of its youth leader Julius
Malema — a power broker seen increasingly as a threat to
President Jacob Zuma’s leadership.

The African National Congress began a disciplinary hearing
this week against Malema, who has been charged with sowing
dissension in its ranks. The hearing at the ANC’s Johannesburg
headquarters was marred by riots when Malema supporters threw
stones and bottles at police on Tuesday.

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 31 (Reuters) – With his political career
at stake, firebrand South African politician Julius Malema faced
a ruling ANC disciplinary hearing for a second day on Wednesday
as Johannesburg police deployed in force to prevent any repeat
of riots by Malema’s supporters.

The African National Congress, which has charged the ANC
Youth League leader with bringing the party into disrepute,
started the hearing on Tuesday at its Johannesburg headquarters,
where thousands of Malema supporters burned ANC flags and hurled
rocks and bottles at journalists and police.

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 30 (Reuters) – South African police used
stun grenades and water cannon on Tuesday to disperse supporters
of outspoken ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, who was
locked in a party disciplinary hearing that could derail his
political career.

Scores of Malema supporters hurled rocks and beer bottles at
police and burned African National Congress (ANC) flags and
posters of President Jacob Zuma outside the party headquarters
in central Johannesburg.

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 (Reuters) – Firebrand ANC Youth League
leader Julius Malema, facing suspension from South Africa’s
ruling party, said on Monday he is ready to step down if it will
bring unity to a political group increasingly divided over his
calls to take over mines.

Malema, 30, faces a disciplinary hearing from Tuesday on
charges he has brought the ruling African National Congress into
disrepute and for sowing discord in the ranks — which could
bring suspension for several years if found guilty. Five other
top Youth League officials also face charges.

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 (Reuters) – South Africa’s Youth League
plans to bus in thousands of supporters of its firebrand leader
Julius Malema for a vigil
to put pressure on the ruling ANC ahead of a disciplinary
hearing that could derail Malema’s political career.

Malema and his spokesman have been charged with “sowing
divisions” in the ranks of the African National Congress and
bringing the party into disrepute. The hearing is expected to
start on Tuesday behind closed doors at ANC headquarters.

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 28 (Reuters) – The Youth League of South
Africa’s ruling ANC was planning tactics on Sunday to support
its leader Julius Malema, who has galvanised legions of poor
black supporters, at a disciplinary hearing this week that could
lead to his suspension.

Malema and his spokesman have been charged with “sowing
divisions” in the ranks of the African National Congress and
bringing the party into disrepute. Their hearing is expected to
start on Tuesday behind closed doors at ANC headquarters.

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (Reuters) – South Africa plans to
complete by the end of the year a study on how to use its vast
mineral wealth to fight widespread poverty and this will figure
into the ruling ANC’s policy discussions on nationalisation, a
top ANC official said on Tuesday.

ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe also tried to dispel
investor concerns the government wants a complete takeover of
the mining sector — a plan backed by the party’s Youth League
and seen by analysts as bankrupting Africa’s largest economy.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s governing alliance between labour and the ANC was given an uncomfortable warning this week by the finance minister, who suggested labour laws they had crafted over the years to protect workers could in fact be causing chronic unemployment.

The comments from Pravin Gordhan annoyed leading labour federation COSATU, but they could spur a much needed debate about labour laws that have eaten into the global competitiveness of Africa’s biggest economy.

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 16 (Reuters) – Unions representing more
than 1 million South Africa state workers said on Tuesday they
had reached a wage increase deal with the government to avert a
mass strike that could have slowed Africa’s largest economy.

But while the mid-year negotiating session known locally as
“strike season” is winding down, striking municipal workers set
fire to rubbish heaps on the streets of Cape Town and looted
road-side stands.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling ANC tried to bring its Youth League leader Julius Malema to heel at a meeting on Monday after the populist politician troubled the party by calling for nationalisation of mines and meddling in foreign affairs.

The meeting may temporarily silence the outspoken Malema but it will be difficult to keep down a man expected to be a power broker when the ANC elects its top officials at a party gathering next year, analysts said.