The African National Congress Youth League on Monday said it would do everything in its power to prevent charges of genocide being laid against former president Thabo Mbeki.

The question about whether or not Mbeki should be charged for his HIV/Aids denialism during his term in office was raised two weeks ago by the Young Communist League.

YCL leader Buti Manamela blamed Mbeki for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people because of his belief that HIV did not cause Aids, and for delaying the countrywide provision of anti-retrovirals.

Speaking at the Pan African Youth Union gala dinner at Emperors Palace on Monday night ANCYL President Julius Malema defended Mbeki, saying he made a mistake while under tremendous pressure to provide the nation with answers.

“Thabo Mbeki might have made mistakes on this or that but you should never be tempted to charge Thabo Mbeki with genocide. That will never happen,” said Malema.