Johannesburg - The Limpopo ANC on Sunday distanced itself from “renegades” who held a parallel ANC Youth League elective conference in the province.
“We wish to firmly distance the ANC in the province from the divisive, mischievous actions of a group of so-called ANCYL renegades who are said to have held their own... conference elsewhere in Polokwane,” ANC Limpopo spokesman Makondelele Mathivha said in a statement.
“If these people are indeed members of the ANCYL, we wish to urge them to desist from creating a negative environment that aims to divide the movement, deliberately causing disharmony and disunity.”
Mathivha said the African National Congress applauded the youth league for holding a successful and well-managed provincial conference in Polokwane.
ANCYL provincial spokesman Che Selane said Rudzani Ludere had been elected as the new provincial chairman. Others elected were deputy chairman Reggie Molokomme, secretary general Jacob Lebogo, deputy secretary general Romeo Mokghothle and treasurer general Kgomotso Kabila Malatji.
The league had also elected 20 provincial executive committee (PEC) members and 10 ex-officio PEC members made up of regional secretaries and chairpersons.
A parallel conference was held in Seshego, home of suspended national ANCYL president Julius Malema, by disbanded branches who were denied entry to the Polokwane conference. They claimed the Limpopo leadership had not listened to their concerns. Seshego is about 10km outside Polokwane.
Selane said the legitimate ANCYL elective conference was held in Polokwane.
“We do not know about such a conference 1/8in Seshego 3/8. This is the only conference, and we have already elected new leaders.”
According to SABC news reports on Saturday, the Seshego conference elected Boy Mamabola as chairman of the province's youth league. Mamabola said this conference would elect a new “preferred” provincial leadership. He claimed the Seshego conference was legitimate and cast doubt on premier Cassel Mathale's political future.
About 400 league members gathered in the street outside Malema's home singing struggle songs. The Seshego conference was held less than a kilometre from his home.
Speaking to the group he issued a challenge to those in the ruling party he claimed were trying to silence him.
“We know that undemocratic processes are those that are intolerant to different views, those that use state power to deal with those that disagree,” Malema said. His comments were broadcast by SABC news.
He said these elements had unleashed all state institutions against him and they would do anything to silence him.
“If they want to arrest me, I've got an address, they are welcome to come and arrest me.”
Malema said he was not breaking the conditions of his suspension by addressing the delegates.
“When you visit me here and you want me to engage with you, I do so without any fear or favour because this is my house. Because this is my house, there is nobody, no matter how powerful you are, 1/8who will 3/8 tell me you can only talk to this visitor and not that visitor. When you are here, you are not delegates... you are my visitors, you are my friends.”
The ANC's national disciplinary committee suspended Malema from the ANC after he called President Jacob Zuma a dictator. The conditions of the suspension prohibit him from exercising any duty as an ANC member, president of the ANCYL, or member of the Limpopo provincial executive committee. - Sapa