The DA and Freedom Front Plus youth bodies, and Afriforum have welcomed the ANC's upholding of Julius Malema's suspension as the leader of its youth league.
The ANC's disciplinary committee of appeals announced on Saturday that the attempts by Malema,
Shivambu, and four other ANCYL officials, to have their suspensions overturned, had been dismissed.
They were found guilty in November last year of bringing the ANC into disrepute and of sowing division
within the party.
However, the public broadcaster reports that the sanctions will only take effect after mitigation.
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the national disciplinary committee of appeal now has the opportunity to go and mitigate so until such mitigation has taken place the sanctions will not kick in.
Malema attended yesterday's ANC's national executive committee meeting in Pretoria as a full member.
He now has a 14-day reprieve to argue for a lesser sentence.
