Task team backs Ndabeni

THE newly appointed ANC Youth League regional task team in the Dr WB Rubusana Region wants former Eastern Cape youth league provincial secretary Mziwonke Ndabeni to succeed Oscar Mabuyane as secretary.

However, the ANCYL RTT, that has only been in office for a week and led by Ndabeni’s long-time ally Ayanda Matiti, has not pronounced on their preference for the position of provincial chairman currently being held by Phumulo Masualle.

This despite the ANCYL provincial task team (PTT) led by Ndabeni having come out months ago declaring their support for Masualle as provincial chairman.

Matiti said their option not to have a name for the chairmanship position should not be read as contradicting the PTT but as opening a room for engagement.

In another unexpected pronouncement, Matiti said the RTT had resolved to include the name of provincial SACP leader Xolile Nqatha in the ANC provincial top five without attaching a specific position to his name.

This can be read as the RTT’s attempt to lure the support of communists for their campaign that is lobbying for Ndabeni to ascend to the provincial secretary office come the elective conference on July 27.

Matiti said theirs was a political framework wherein the Eastern Cape “reclaims its glory on the national stage” of politics.

As such, they believe Ndabeni fitted perfectly to be the face of their campaign.

Matiti said Ndabeni had risen through the ranks and has been “everything in all structures of the ANC”.

“We think that he remains the outlook of what we should be talking about for the office of the provincial secretary.

“On the question of the chair . . . we are imploring for the theatre of engagement where we are willing to engage everybody to convince them otherwise.”

Ndabeni said he was not opposed to his name being pushed for any position at provincial level but only when formal nomination processes open.

“When the nomination starts and structures of the ANC are expressing an opinion that I should consider standing for the position of provincial secretary, I will avail myself,” Ndabeni said.

Nqatha said he was aware of “rumours” of his name proposed for the top five.

“However, responding now will not assist in the unity of the movement and will be tantamount to denying branches their right to express a view on the matter when the process opens officially.” — zingisam@dispatch.