JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Used to shrugging off jokes and criticism, outspoken South African youth leader Julius Malema will not be deterred for long by censure from the ruling ANC for taking his racial rhetoric too far.
While opponents mock his style and background, Malema has emerged as one of the highest profile political figures in South Africa and a noisy mouthpiece for a swathe of the black majority that feels not enough has changed since the end of apartheid.
The leadership of the African National Congress is now discussing measures against Malema, 29, for bringing the party into disrepute.
"A person of this political skill and focus is not going to be wiped off the face of the political realm because of a setback like this," said independent analyst Nic Borain.
Malema never shied from confrontation over his call for nationalising mines, quarrels with the ANC's political partners or above all race -- which he has put at the forefront of the political debate in a way unknown since apartheid.
He went too far by defying a party order to pipe down after the murder of white separatist Eugene Terre'blanche, breaking from the official line on Zimbabwe and driving a British reporter from a news conference while calling him a bastard with a "white tendency".