Clashes erupt in South Africa as youth leader faces hearing

[News_Editor]

Clashes erupt in South Africa as youth leader faces hearing

2011-08-31 02:03:16 GMT+7 (ICT)

JOHANNESBURG (BNO NEWS) -- South African police on Tuesday used water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse supporters of the ruling party's youth leader Julius Malema in central Johannesburg, local media reported.

Police fired rubber bullets after a group of about 25 people climbed on top of an anti-riot truck, singing and dancing with sticks in their hands, according to the South African Press Association (SAPA). Protesters also threw stones at police and burned t-shirts with the image of President Jacob Zuma outside of the African National Congress headquarters, where Malema and other top youth leaders were due to face a disciplinary hearing.

Members of the African National Congress' (ANC) Youth League, including schoolchildren, also marched around the city singing songs with lyrics such as "Jacob Zuma you are a coward" and carrying signs reading "Hands off Malema, our leader."

At least five journalists covering the clashes were hit by rocks and a policeman had to be hospitalized. Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar told SAPA that one rioter was arrested for public violence.

The ANC Youth League condemned the burning of t-shirts and other violent acts. "The ANCYL strongly condemns and dissociates itself from the burning of ANC T-shirts with the face of President Zuma," the party said. "We... call on those who are here to support the leadership to exercise maximum discipline and do so in a peaceful manner, regard and respect to the ANC process."

Malema also urged his supporters not to attack journalists or the police, and to respect ruling party leaders. "You cannot throw stones at journalists because journalists are just messengers. If you attack journalists, you will lose public sympathy," he told a crowd at Beyers Naude Square in central Johannesburg.

Malema and five other top officials in the league are accused of "sowing divisions" and bringing the party into 'disrepute' by calling for a regime change in neighboring Botswana. The 30-year-old has been president of the ANC Youth League since 2008.

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