Pretoria - The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in Limpopo is getting ready for the elective conference, expected to take place next month.
The movement completed four regional elective conferences this past weekend.
The Peter Mokaba Region, Vhembe, Waterberg and Mopani all chose new leaders, leaving only Sekhukhune to consolidate its members that will pave the way for the provincial conference to take place on April 29 and 30.
The youth wing of the ANC effectively died after the expulsion of its then president Julius Malema in 2012 for allegedly sowing division and bringing the party into disrepute with his disparaging remarks about the Botswana government.
Malema has since formed the EFF, which has grown into the third biggest party in the country.
In Limpopo, the national task team tasked with preparing for provincial conferences resolved to dissolve the provincial structure led by chairperson Vincent Shoba and secretary Che Selane.
However, it is now ready to go to the conference and choose new leadership.
The provincial congress preparatory committee led by co-ordinator Tony Rachoene said the state of readiness was at an advanced stage.
Rachoene, who is widely expected to be elected provincial chairperson after he declared his availability, said they had reached 70% of branches that met to give the conference the green light.
Speaking to the Pretoria News yesterday he said: “The ANCYL in Limpopo has reached 70% of branches that allows the province to host their provincial congress, so the ANCYL provincial congress will be sitting from April 29 to 30.
“The province made history by taking all our regions to their elective conference in one weekend where the challenges were usually consisting of disputes, but the relevant committees managed to deal with all the disputes and challenges before the conference sat,” Rachoene said.
He said the only remaining region, namely Sekhukhune, was expected to sit for conference this weekend.
When asked if he was available for a position at the conference, Rachoene confirmed he would be participating.
“If branches of the ANCYL can show confidence in me and nominate me for the position of chairperson, I will definitely be available for such an opportunity,” he said.
It’s not all smooth sailing ahead of the elective conference. Some within the Youth League had tried to stop the conference with a court interdict but were dismissed in the high court.
“Yes, I can confirm that there was a court application to interdict our conference by some comrades, but fortunately their application was dismissed with costs.
“They were challenging the task team for not following due processes.”
Rachoene dismissed ideas that the ANCYL was marred by factional battles.
Pretoria News