Johannesburg - The race for the presidency of the ANC Youth League has been thrown wide open, after one of the top North West politicians, Collen Maine, became another candidate for the leadership.
Maine, North West MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, announced his availability for the post ahead of the league’s upcoming national congress next Thursday. He was nominated as the province’s preferred candidate during the provincial general congress on Wednesday.
Maine looks set to challenge former ANCYL treasurer Pule Mabe and former deputy president Ronald Lamola for the post. The league has been battling to convene a proper national congress for more than two years since the expulsion of its former president, Julius Malema, in August 2012.
Two attempts to convene the congress were aborted, with the second one converted into a national consultative conference in November last year, in which the national task team was disbanded. A new one was appointed, with Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa appointed as its leader.
Last week, Mthethwa addressed the media for first time in his new portfolio and announced the new date for the national congress.
He also said a total of 3 000 delegates were expected to convene at a venue yet to be announced in Gauteng.
North West was expected to send 382 delegates.
On Wednesday, the provincial ANCYL announced that Maine was their preferred candidate for the presidency of the league. North West secretary Sipho Dial said Maine’s availability was taken at their Youth Day celebrations in Pudumong outside Taung on Tuesday.
Maine is North West chairman of the league.
Dial said Maine’s nomination was also supported by members of the league in the neighbouring provinces of Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
Dial was adamant that Maine remained the only candidate equal to the task of restoring the ANCYL since the departure of Malema and Floyd Shivambu, the league’s former communications head.
“We have discussed this position with the league structures and they said Maine’s credentials speak volumes. His strength to deal with tasks at hand and his calibre place him as the suitable candidate for the top position in the league.”
Dial detailed Maine’s past political involvement within the ANC, which include serving as a leader of the Congress of SA Students, and regional organiser of the ANCYL in the then Bophirima, now Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, region from 2002 till 2007.
Maine also served as the league’s deputy chairman in 2008 and as a National Council of Province member in 2009. He became the social development MEC in 2013 and was appointed local government and human settlements MEC last year.
Accepting the call to become the league’s next president, Maine said: “As a member of the Youth League in good standing, I have no choice but to lead it in restoring the confidence of young people in this organisation.
The Star