There are signs of discontent in Gauteng and the Free State, while "victimised" leaders in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo have taken Malema to court in separate actions.

Malema's youth league opponents were scathing in their attacks this week, with the league's ousted Limpopo chairman, Lehlohonolo Masoga, accusing Malema in court papers of abusing "state instruments like the police to settle political disputes".

In another court application, the league's Eastern Cape provincial chairman, Mlibo Qoboshiyana, described Malema as an "embarrassment" and averred that Malema had dissolved the youth league's provincial executive because it was opposed to his attempts to secure a second term as league president.

As the strain of the rebellion took began taking its toll, the league's spokesman, Floyd Shivambu, on Friday warned dissidents that "court actions" were "against internal organisational process" and that "all members who are part of the court actions directly and indirectly (will) ultimately account through the internal organisational process".

The statement was described by Malema's opponents as a threat of "victimisation", particularly against those who are opposed to his intention to run for a second term as the league's president.

In his action launched in the High Court in Grahamstown, Qoboshiyana asks the court to declare the decision to dissolve the league's PEC "void and unforceable".

Qoboshiyana also wants the court to prevent a July 10 provincial elective conference - convened by Malema - from taking place.

He asks for an order to "interdict and restrain" Malema from interfering in the affairs of the Eastern Cape ANCYL provincial executive, "more particularly, its right to convene a provincial conference".

Qoboshiyana's affidavit says the majority of the dissolved provincial executive "do not support Mr Malema's re-election ... Malema has through his conduct embarrassed some, certainly most, of the PEC, the league, the ANC and members of the broader South African society".

He says that Malema's conduct in attempting to convene his own provincial conference "is geared to secure the election of a provincial executive committee which will support (him) in his attempt to be elected for a second term as the league's president".

He says that if the congress arranged by Malema were to be allowed to proceed, "the underhanded strategy to muster support for Malema will have been successful".

Qoboshiyana reveals in papers that he approached the ANC's Eastern Cape working committee and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe in his attempt to resolve matters.

Mantashe, says Qoboshiyana, "advised me that the request for intervention would be discussed by the (national) working committee of the ANC at its meeting on Monday, 28 June".

He has not received any response from Mantashe since then, he says.

The youth league has to date disbanded its provincial structures in the Eastern Cape, North West and the Western Cape. There is a dispute in Limpopo over the legitimacy of the leadership which was elected at a chaotic conference last month - after which four of the outgoing leaders were charged by Malema for bringing the league into disrepute.

Among those charged was Masoga - Malema's longtime friend and ally, who is the ousted youth league chairman in Limpopo - and his former secretary, Goodman Mitileni, who was among those who, just two years ago, put on a spirited fight to have Malema elected as youth league president.

Masoga, who is challenging his disciplinary hearing in the High Court in Johannesburg, this week had his matter postponed to July 13 after the youth league pleaded that it needed more time to prepare its case.

The respondents in Masoga's case include the youth league and its national disciplinary committee members. The court interdicted the committee from proceeding with Masoga's case until they appear again.

Similar battles are manifesting in the Free State and Gauteng, which have yet to hold their provincial conferences.

The Gauteng grouping sympathetic to Malema is led by provincial secretary Thabo Kupa. He is tipped to challenge Lebohang Maile - who rallied behind Paul Mashatile to retain his position as ANC provincial chairman - for the position of youth league chairman. Kupa supported premier Nomvula Mokonyane over Mashatile.

Said Shivambu in a statement: "We will never be intimidated by stray elements and will forever stay firm in protecting the integrity and discipline of our organisation."

By The Times (SA)