Mabuyane nemesis Ndabeni given leg up via youth league task team

Masualle’s position when the province goes to its elective conference.

But the paper reported last week that the Chris Hani region in Queenstown wants both Masualle and Mabuyane to retain their positions for the sake of unity.

Chris Hani regional secretary Lusanda Sizani said a united voice would put the province in good standing for bargaining at the NGC and national elective conference.

It is unclear who the Eastern Cape will support as ANC president come 2019.

North West, Mpumalanga and the Free State – the provinces known as the premier league – and the NECs of the youth league and women’s league have come out in support of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as president.

At least three sources said the Ndabeniled PTT would be a way for the premier league to divide the province and place others such as the Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal at an advantage.

Both Matiti and Amathole regional secretary Terrice Ntutu are viewed as having close links with the premier league.

“The unity talks in Eastern Cape did not sit well with the premier league because it can only thrive when this province is divided. The only way to divide it is to convert the youth league and put it into their own pocket. If you check these names, all they did was identify the vocal youth leaguers to campaign for their cause,” said a senior ANC leader in the province.

The PTT includes former regional leaders who were removed and replaced by task teams. Among them are former regional leaders such as BCM’s Ntembeko Dodo, Amathole’s Melikhaya Pikinini and Nelson Mandela Bay’s Siya Vazi.

Also on the PTT is Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s spokesman Mlimandlela Ndamase, Mabhuti Matyumza of Sarah Baartman, Sithembiso Khanyile of BCM and Onke Mgungculu of Amathole.

Another senior ANC leader said: “You can see that some people are doing everything to ensure that the Eastern Cape is divided. This PTT is one such case.”

But Ndabeni dismissed these claims, saying: “Our mandate is clear – it is to build youth league structures. What the national position of the league will be going forward is not our concern now. So we have nothing to do with premier leagues.”

The announcement comes as members of the disbanded ANCYL PEC await the outcome of an appeal to ANC SG Mantashe for the disbandment to be reversed.

However, the ANC PEC has welcomed the decision. Speaking on behalf of the PEC Mabuyane said: “The ANC PWC took a decision that we will recognise any structure when that dispute process is concluded.

“The sooner all is put to its logical conclusion the better, so that the new structure can operate easily with everyone rallying behind it. As the ANC we are ready to work with all legitimate league structures.”

Mabuyane refused to be dragged into any discussions relating to the premier league.