Revival roar from axed young lions
THE ANCYL provincial executive committee (PEC) in the Eastern Cape is back in action, 15 months after its disbandment by the leagues national executive committee (NEC) sent its members into the political wilderness.
The PEC, which was elected in Wilsonia in November 2014, held a meeting at the ANC’s provincial headquarters, Calata House in King William’s Town, on Sunday in which everyone resolved to hit the ground running and prepare to take the league to a provincial conference this year.
However, this is while the ANCYL provincial task team (PTT), which was appointed by the Collen Maine-led NEC after the disbandment 15 months ago, is on a similar mission.
ANCYL national spokesman Mlondi Mkhize said there was only one youth league structure in the EC – the PTT.
The Wilsonia-elected ANCYL PEC, however, insists that it is the legitimate body, as its disbandment had never been finalised since it lodged an appeal with Luthuli House more than a year ago.
The members have accused the Maineled NEC of displaying “total disregard for organisation growth and stability in the Eastern Cape”.
Mkhize hit back, saying the meeting on Sunday was just “an imbizo by bored residents of the Eastern Cape”.
It was in the Sunday meeting that the “disbanded” youth league PEC members resolved to visit regional executive committees (RECs) to ensure that they are in good standing and ready for the provincial conference.
And they dared anyone to dispute their legitimacy.
“We will in a week’s time release a roadmap to the provincial congress for all structures in the province,” said spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa in a statement.
Mkhize said it was only the PTT that would be presiding over preparations for the youth league’s provincial congress “before the end of April this year”.
The Wilsonia group says it will go to court to affirm its legitimacy and challenge the disbandment.
In the meantime it has “requested” a meeting with the PEC of the parent body to outline its process towards the provincial congress and “seek the support of the ANC (PEC)”.
Mkhize was adamant that who was boss would be clarified this weekend when the PTT and not the Wilsonia PEC attended the ANCYL’s NEC meeting to brief it on the roadmap to the provincial conference.