Despite video evidence, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) this week declared that they could find “no evidence” of police taking instructions from ANC Youth League president Julius Malema at the Limpopo Provincial conference last year.

In April last year the Limpopo Mirror, the Zoutpansberger´s sister publication, rteported on the former chairperson of the ANC Youth League, Mr Lehlogonolo Masoga as well as his supporters that were forcibly removed from the eighth provincial conference that was held at Makhado Biaba in the Dzanani area. Masoga and his supporters were chased away from the conference hall and some were injured when the police shot rubber bullets into the crowd.

The ICD stepped in to investigate, following a complaint that was lodged by the Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard after the meeting.

“Upon thorough analysis of all the information available to it, the ICD could not find evidence to support the allegation that the police acted on Mr Malema’s instructions,” said ICD national spokesperson, Mr Moses Dlamini in a statement on Tuesday.

“During the investigation, statements of police officers who were posted at the conference, as well as video footage were obtained and reviewed. The youth league also submitted a statement,” said Dlamini.

He added that the ICD does not have any legal mandate to investigate a civilian or any person who is not employed in terms of South African Police Service Act. As a result the investigation in Malema’s case focused on the conduct of members of the SAPS.

“The ICD is a civilian oversight body established in terms of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Act 68 of 1995, to investigate complaints of criminality and misconduct against members of the SAPS, including municipal police,” said Dlamini.

Interestingly enough, on exclusive Times Live video footage that was taken during the meeting, Malema can be heard asking the leader of the South African Police Services, Makushu (Head of the VIP protection unit) to remove delegates who were booing him.

“Comrades we are asking the leader of the South African Police to bring crowd control inside and remove this crowd. We are not going to run congress through hooligans here,” shouted Malema.

When the crowd tried to resist the police, Malema ordered them to be pushed outside.

“Police take them outside. Police don’t negotiate with hooligans – Push outside. We are not a Mickey Mouse organisation,” said Malema.

Malema further gave the police and the VIP unit instructions to escort the crowd outside the conference venue and to take over ANC security points to see to it that nobody tries to re-enter the hall.

Delegates last year accused Malema of orchestrating their removal to ensure that his preferred candidates were elected.

After the crowd was removed, Malema said that they could only sit in the meeting if they “respect leadership.”