The ANC Youth League on Wednesday said it was shocked that its website had been tampered with.

“Such tampering is condemned and we hope that there will be no future repetition of such interference,” the ANCYL said in a statement. “We do expect that such wrong-doings will never be repeated by those who advance a malicious agenda.”

The names of expelled ANCYL president Julius Malema and suspended secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa were removed from the website, leaving blank spaces next to those positions on the page listing its national executive committee.

Their names had been restored to the page by Wednesday afternoon.

The ANCYL said the information on the website belonged to the youth league and “not individuals who believe otherwise” and that it had restored the names.
Suspended youth league spokesman Floyd Shivambu’s name also remained on the list of NEC members.

Although Malema was expelled from the ANC last week following an announcement by the party’s national disciplinary committee of appeal, the ANCYL has said he will remain president until its next election in 2014.

He was found guilty of sowing division in the party and of bringing it into disrepute for unfavourably comparing the leadership style of President Jacob Zuma to that of former President Thabo Mbeki, and for remarks on bringing about regime change in Botswana.

Magaqa was suspended for a year for making derogatory remarks about public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba. He has since apologised.

Shivambu’s ANC membership was suspended for three years for swearing at a journalist and for issuing a statement calling for a change of government in Botswana. — Sapa