Pretoria - Expelled ANC Youth League treasurer-general Pule Mabe bounced back into his old position at the weekend when a meeting of the league’s national executive committee (NEC) resolved, at its first ordinary meeting of the year, that his removal had been unconstitutional.
Mabe, who at 32 became the youngest member of the ANC’s NEC at the party’s Mangaung conference last month, was stripped of his title and kicked out of the league’s NEC in May last year.
A vote of no confidence was passed by fellow members when supporters of former president Julius Malema accused him of mismanaging resources and behaving in a factional manner.
On Monday, acting youth league president Ronald Lamola said the decision had been made during deliberations and resolutions to strengthen the youth league.
The meeting was held at the St George’s Hotel in Centurion.
“After intense and frank deliberations, the NEC resolved to reinstate the treasurer-general,” Lamola said. “No proper process was followed in the removal of Comrade Pule and we resolved therefore to reinstate him unconditionally.”
Discussions during the meeting had been thorough and far-reaching on the critical and challenging questions confronting the youth league, Lamola said.
The deputy secretary-general, Kenetswe Mosenogi, said although the youth league would not give any information on how the decision had been reached until it had reported to its structures, it acknowledged it had erred in removing Mabe.
“There is no ‘vote of confidence’ in our constitution, especially for an elected leader,” she explained.
Mabe had challenged the decision to remove him from his position.
The league NEC said it accepted and respected the decision taken by its mother body structures to expel Malema and suspend the league’s secretary-general, Sindiso Magaqa, and spokesman, Floyd Shivambu – a move the trio fought with all their might.
“We are guided by the wisdom of ANC structures,” said Mosenogi.
“After we contested the decision and made our views public we, as an organ of the ANC, subjected ourselves to the resolution.”
Issues around the election of a new president and office-bearers would be discussed after the NEC gave feedback to members, Mosenogi said.
Lamola said: “Once we are ready we will announce the opening of election lines and people will be free to elect the people of their choice.
“All structures will have their say.
“Anyone who wants to can avail themselves for nomination and election to positions.”
The league also resolved to discipline those who broke the law.
It would be instructing its structures to desist from mobilising and organising young people for court appearances using the league’s banner. “Members are free to offer support to comrades in heir personal capacity, but never in the name of the youth league,” Lamola said.
Pretoria News