George Matlala
The battle for the control of the ANC Youth League has entered a new stage, as competing camps started circulating lists of their preferred candidates for the elective conference in June.
Youth league president Julius Malema is facing a challenge from the league’s chairman in Gauteng, Lebogang Maile. The contest will be a precursor for the ANC’s elective conference next year, for which more than 2 000 delegates are expected to converge at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.
Campaigners for both contestants are drumming up support in crucial provinces such as Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
Supporters of Maile want him to be deputised by National Youth Development Agency chairman Andile Lungisa, who fell out of favour recently for being seen to be toeing Malema’s line.
They were lobbying for former KwaZulu-Natal’s Lower South Coast regional secretary, Wandile Mkhize, to be secretary-general, while MP Mduduzi Manana was tipped as a treasurer.
Maile’s group was using Malema’s veiled attacks on President Jacob Zuma’s relationship with the Guptas to discredit him. They also claim that they don’t want changes in the leadership of the ANC, saying the whole top six should remain.
In Limpopo, Malema’s rival, the league’s former chairman, Lehlogonolo Masoga, has thrown his weight behind Maile, while the Eastern Cape is divided. Eastern Cape secretary Ayanda Matiti, who initially supported Malema, has now turned against him.
Observers say the Eastern Cape could provide a swing vote. But Malema doesn’t command support only in the big provinces.
He also has significant control over the small provinces – which could give him an advantage.
Malema’s supporters want him to return the presidency while his lieutenant, Pule Mabe, is set to return as treasurer. The league’s KZN deputy chairman Sindiso Magaqa was earmarked as the group’s secretary-general.
North West, the Free State, Mpumalanga, the Western Cape and Northern Cape were said to be fully in support of Malema.
A Malema campaigner, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the camp had done a lot of lobbying during provincial conferences.
Malema’s group was accused of purging branches not in support of Malema, while helping to install his allies in the leadership echelons in various provinces.
“We did a lot of work towards the provincial conferences,” the source said.
Malema’s group believes he has rejuvenated the league and projected it as a fearless force with great influence in the ANC.
They portray Maile as a candidate with support from some in the top six of the ANC leadership, a situation they argue would weaken the league and compromise its autonomy.
“Anyone supported by the leadership of the ANC will not emerge,” the campaigner said.
ANC spokesman Paseka Letsatsi said the league was fully prepared and would host an uneventful conference.
“We have tightened up our processes – registration, transport and everything that has to do with logistics… There will be no chaos,” he said.
The league’s recent provincial conferences were marred by violent flare-ups, especially in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
He said the provinces would announce their candidates in the next weeks.