ANCYL president jets in to address new task team

ANC YOUTH League president Collen Maine jets into the province today to address the youth wing’s newly-elected task team in Calata House, King William’s Town.

ANCYL provincial task team convenor Mziwonke Ndabeni confirmed Maine’s visit yesterday, saying the brief they received was that “the NEC [national executive committee] is here to outline the terms of reference of this PTT [provincial task team]”.

The ANCYL’s national working committee resolved to disband the Nathi Nqokoled provincial structure effectively from November 8, for having failed to launch fully functional structures across regions.

However, the disbanded provincial executive committee (PEC) has written to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, asking the mother body to intervene and reverse the decision.

The Saturday Dispatch reported that the PEC fell out of favour with the Maine-led NEC after it called for an early ANC conference to help the party deal with President Jacob Zuma’s woes.

This followed the Constitutional Court’s decision, which found that Zuma flouted the constitution when he refused to fully abide by the recommendations of the public protector on expenditure incurred for the renovation of his Nkandla private residence.

The then public protector, Thuli Madonsela, had asked national Treasury to determine how much Zuma should pay for the non-security upgrades such as swimming pool, chicken run and cattle kraal. Mantashe has yet to respond to the youth wing’s appeal.

ANCYL NEC members Masibulele Jara and Mlondi Mkhize are also scheduled to form part of today’s meeting.

Ndabeni said Maine will outline a programme of action for the PTT, which will include a plan to take regions to their elective conferences.

He said the programme would include the plan.

“We can’t be silent as on an important national matter like the fees must fall programme,” Ndabeni said.

“It is also important to craft a plan – a role the youth can play in major development projects like your N2 Wild Coast toll road development, the Umthombo project and the Umzimvubu dam project. — zineg@dispatch.co.za youth development