Durban - Premier Senzo Mchunu has backed down to pressure from the ANC Youth League.
In a letter to the ANC and the league, Mchunu distanced himself from disgruntled party members who marched to the ANC provincial office last week to demand a re-run of the conference held three weeks ago.
Mchunu was given a three-day ultimatum by the league on Wednesday to distance himself from the march in Durban, which they described as bringing the organisation into disrepute.
The league had maintained that if he did not, they would assume he sanctioned it. They went further, to threaten to press internal charges against Mchunu in the party should he fail to heed their call.
The ultimatum was made two days after Mchunu’s supporters staged a march to the ANC offices to complain about alleged irregularities at the elective conference in Pietermaritzburg that saw the premier ousted as party chairman in the province by Sihle Zikalala.
On Sunday, both the league’s provincial secretary, Thanduxolo Sabelo, and ANC provincial secretary, Super Zuma, confirmed that Mchunu had penned a letter to the organisations on the matter.
“We have a letter from the premier distancing himself from the anarchists who marched to the ANC offices.
“We are satisfied with his explanation that he was not part of the march. He has clearly distanced himself and accepted the outcome of the conference,” Sabelo said.
Zuma said he received the letter from Mchunu on Friday.
“We received a letter from the premier, and correctly, as a disciplined comrade, he did not respond to the media. He responded to the organisation, to say he was not part of the march and its planning. That clarifies the matter raised by the Youth League,” Zuma said.
Mchunu’s spokesman, Sibusiso Magwaza, said the premier would not comment on the matter. His office has previously stated that Mchunu would not comment on matters arising from the ANC elective conference.
The turn of events, according to University of KwaZulu-Natal politics lecturer Zakhele Ndlovu, would create an impression that the league was “powerful”.
But this was denied by Sabelo, who said their action was “organisational”.
Ndlovu said the ultimatum was a bit unfair to the premier.
“It is not about Senzo Mchunu as it is also about people who supported him. He is just the face, and you had a lot of people involved in the campaign,” he said.
Ndlovu said the disgruntled members were within their rights to make their voice heard by the ruling party.
“Well, he can write the letter, but the people can’t be stopped to raise issues. If he wrote the letter, it will be easier not to put a finger on him.”
He also said Mchunu’s backing down would now make the league feel their voice was powerful.
“The ANCYL is going too far. They’re trying to make themselves relevant after they were disbanded,” Ndlovu said.
“They’re trying to make a footing for themselves. They want to be heard and be associated with the leagues of Peter Mokaba and Fikile Mbalula. They will have an exaggerated sense of importance,” he said.
Daily News
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