A deep rift has emerged between Western Cape ANC Youth League members and the party’s provincial leadership, as the league made a second failed attempt to hold its elective conference in Cape Town this weekend.
And the contest over who will lead the league in this province has also been overshadowed by the national debate over who will act in axed Julius Malema’s position, with those in the Western Cape loyal to Malema optimistic that they will be able to hang on to power here.
In a clear attack on the Western Cape ANC leadership this weekend, and in a scenario reminiscent of the stand-off at national level, Western Cape ANC chairman Marius Fransman was specifically named among senior politicians from the mother body who were urged to keep their hands off the provincial conference.
onton Snyman’s supporters accused Fransman of being behind a smear campaign against their candidate, who is loyal to Malema, saying he was openly lobbying for opponent Luvo Makasi to win the provincial election race.
But yesterday Fransman hit back, saying the youth league must stop making false accusations, and advising them to start focusing on their own internal problems.
“It is unacceptable that for the past two years the league has been run by a provincial task team. The league must get its act together and focus on the real issues…” he said.
In a statement, Snyman’s supporters said that as young people they would like to appeal to the ANC in the province to stop trying to influence the political processes, policy direction and general leadership race.
Snyman said many delegates had expressed concerns that they were being influenced by senior members of the ANC in the province, who had embarked on a smear campaign against him.
“It is also suspected that the leadership of the ANC in the province, led by… Fransman, have certain interests in terms of the outcomes of the conference, and are actively participating to ensure that their preferred candidate, Makasi, emerges as winner,” he added.
The provincial youth league was set to elect its chairman on Friday night, after a failed elective conference in December.
But it was a case of déjà vu as proceedings again failed to start, as organisers scrambled to secure a quorum for the crucial conference, plagued by drunken delegates and rivalry.
The provincial youth league has been run by a caretaker task team since the ANCYL NEC disbanded the provincial executive in 2010.
The two main contenders for top post, Makasi and Snyman, are cautiously optimistic about their chances. Makasi is said to be supportive of youth league treasurer-general Pule Mabe, while Snyman is said to be behind league secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa.
The conference was scheduled to start at 5pm on Friday, but hours later delegates were scattered around the venue at the Gugulethu Sport Complex. Supporters aligned to Makasi accused their rivals of trying to smuggle at least 60 delegates into the conference.
“Behind the scenes all hell was breaking loose when the Boland region tried to register delegates who were not audited members of the ANCYL. Some were not even from the Boland, and we doubt they were youth league members,” one supporter said.
Given the loud kwaito music being played inside the venue, passers-by would have been forgiven for mistaking the conference for a party. Many league members could be seen with glasses in hand.
Boland delegates meanwhile, claimed they were threatened and intimidated by drunken rivals, but those aligned to Makasi dismissed these allegations as false.
“There was no drunken brawl. The problem was that the league required 338 delegates, and only a total of 286 registered,” said an official.
Neither of the two main contenders could offer reasons for the collapse of the conference.
But their supporters were adamant that the drama playing out at national level between the ANC and ANCYL was at the heart of the failed meeting.
Some claimed that delegates from the Central Karoo region had caused the hold-up, while others blamed ghost branches and the rejection of delegates favouring Snyman.
Frustrated league members complained that they were not given enough notice.
“We are all in the dark about what is happening. All we can do is wait and see. But it will be a miracle if this conference goes ahead this year,” one said.
Boland delegates who were prevented from registering complained that 96 delegates from 63 branches - who support Snyman's leadership - arrived at the venue.
However only a few were allowed to register. - Weekend Argus