BCM youth throw their weight behind Mkolo

ANC youth have declared their support for Pumlani Mkolo to become the Dr WB Rubusana regional chair.

Addressing a press conference at Rubusana House in Oxford Street, ANCYL regional secretary Anele Davis said they want Mkolo to take over from incumbent chair Xola Pakati because of Mkolo’s rich history as a leader in ANC structures.

“He has chaired Amathole ANCYL REC and served the ANC in Dr WB Rubusana for two terms as secretary.”

Mkolo is likely to contest at the conference, which is set for next Friday in East London, against his former ally Sindile Toni as well as Pakati.

Mkolo is among several ANC leaders and East London business people facing criminal charges for alleged involvement in the misuse of almost R6m earmarked for the late Nelson Mandela’s memorial services in December 2013.

It remains unclear whether the party would allow Mkolo to stand as a candidate as there is a standing ANC Integrity Commission decision made in 2015, which asked Mkolo not to take part in ANC activities. However, when branches nominated him at last December’s national elective conference in Nasrec, none of the more than 5,000 delegates objected to his nomination as a national executive committee member (NEC). He accepted but failed to make the cut.

Davis said ANC support dropped in the 2016 local elections “due to lack of ANC programmes”. “This shows he is loved by the people in our communities, and we were disappointed in how his case was handled,” said Davis.

Mkolo’s co-accused – Sindiswa Gomba, Luleka SimonNdzele and former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha – are leaders in various ANC structures. SimonNdzele is regional deputy chair while Gomba and Ncitha joined the ANC provincial executive committee in October.

The youth league also wants former Cosas general secretary Antonio Carelse to take over from the now suspended Mkolo as regional secretary. His likely rivals are Zena Maria of King William’s Town and Mthetheleli Sam, who replaced Mkolo and is now the ANC’s acting regional secretary.

Integrity Commission in 2015 asked Mkolo not to take part in ANC activities