Julius Malema has admitted that he instructed the police to quell "disruptors" in Limpopo, but has denied that he abused his powers to settle political scores in the ANC Youth League.
This comes as Malema is facing a growing rebellion, with five provinces - or factions in some of these provinces - resorting to the courts to challenge his leadership.
In papers filed in the Johannesburg High Court, youth league secretary-general Vuyiswa Tulelo rejected accusations by deposed Limpopo youth secretary Lehlogonolo Masoga that Malema had used the police to silence his critics at a provincial conference three months ago.
In her answering affidavit, Tulelo said Malema indicated that members of the youth league who were deployed with him had told him to instruct police to remove disruptive delegates.
"The deployees agreed to instruct Malema to call upon members of the SAPS to enter the hall and remove the disruptors. As members of the SAPS were removing them, the deployees informed the disruptors that they will only be allowed back in the hall if they behave themselves.
"It is normal that at ANC conferences, police, including crowd-control units, are on standby to be called in when the security is unable to control the crowds," said Tulelo.
The Independent Complaints Directorate yesterday confirmed it was investigating a complaint laid by the DA that police took instructions from Malema.
"We can't divulge any details at this stage, but we might be able to say what is happening by the end of the month," said ICD spokesman Moses Dlamini.