Johannesburg - The African National Congress Youth League has set the leadership succession debate rolling ahead the ruling party's elective conference next year.
“We want a radical policy shift... We need courageous men and women to lead our people,” ANCYL chief Julius Malema said in his closing address at the League's conference in Midrand on Sunday.
He called for a 50-percent youth quota in the ANC.
“If the ANC has got two delegates, one must be young.”
Malema said there should be a 50-percent representation of youth at ANC meetings.
The same rule should be applied during the election of leaders, said Malema, who has been pushing for his predecessor, Fikile Mbalula, to replace ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.
He added that the League would look at whether the ANC leadership candidates available would be fit to implement the League's policies.
“If you are available, are you up to the task?”
He explained that the League would not merely look at the name of candidates but also the potential of the candidate in implementing policies.
He called for unity among the youth, saying being united did not mean they had to think the same, be the same or walk the same.
It meant they were “entitled to differ from one another as long as they ended up agreeing”.
Malema also said youth representation should be improved in the ANC.
At the end of his speech, which lasted longer than an hour, Malema thanked ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa for supporting him during his disciplinary hearing last year.
He also thanked his two lawyers, Themba Langa and Clifford Motsepe.
“I am a member of the ANC because of Phosa... and Motsepe and Langa... who defended me against people who wanted to deport me to China and Cuba.”
Malema said Phosa defended him despite it being a “career-limiting” move for Phosa.
He also thanked Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. - Sapa