ANCYL secretary general Njabulo Nzuza
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) is blaming its former leaders
for the organisation's liquidation.
On Thursday, the South Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, who was seeking payment from a defamation
case. The judgment has subsequently left the ANC Youth League bankrupt.
The matter relates to an incident in 2010 where former
leaders Julius Malema, Andile Lili and Floyd Shivambu allegedly referred to
Zille as a racist.
"Both parties involved made a private arrangement to
settle the matter outside court," ANCYL secretary general Njabulo Nzuza
said in a statement issued on Monday.
However, the former ANCYL leaders failed to pay the legal
fees as agreed, Nzuza said.
According to City Press, advocate Hugo de Waal, who
represented Zille in the matter, applied for the liquidation order against the
league in November. De Waal said in court papers that Zille had transferred her
right to recover the costs, totalling R93 218.09 plus interest, to him.
ANCYL consulting lawyers
Hein von Lieres, De Waal's attorney, said the ANCYL sent him
proof of payment on the night after the liquidation order was granted.
He was reported as saying that it made no difference as the
league had already been liquidated.
However, the ANCYL insists that it has settled its debts.
"We wish to categorically state that the leadership has
fulfilled its legal obligation and paid the said debt after communicating with
the affected parties," Nzuza said.
The ANCYL says the matter was only brought to its attention
recently.
"The recent legal bill is one of the many issues the
ANCYL inherited from the former structure under the leadership of Mr Malema. It
should be said that this matter was never handed over as a result of the
disbandment of the previous structure of the ANCYL," Nzuza added.
The ANCYL is currently in consultation with its lawyers to
settle the matter "as speedily as possible".
