KNIVES ARE OUT FOR NEW ANCYL SECRETARY-GENERAL
IT’S only been three days since the ANC Youth League elections, and already the newly elected secretary-general Njabulo Nzuza is under fire.
However, Nzuza, who was elected together with president Collen Maine at the party’s national conference in Midrand on Friday, said he is the subject of a dirty tricks campaign after allegations of his “questionable character” emerged.
A number of members said Nzuza, who until Saturday was an unknown ANCYL regional secretary in Musa Dladla region (Richards Bay/Empangeni), has had various run-ins with the law.
In July 2007, a case of fraud was opened against him in Empangeni but was later withdrawn. A similar case was opened against him in March 2012 in Richards Bay but he was later found not guilty.
In July 2012, Nzuza was arrested in Mtunzini for driving without a licence, but the case was later withdrawn.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed all three cases were opened against him, but would not elaborate on how and why two of these were withdrawn.
Yesterday, Nzuza said: “I have never been found guilty of any offence and I have no criminal record. These are just dirty tricks and they did not start now.”
KwaZulu-Natal ANCYL secretary Thanduxolo Sabela also defended Nzuza, saying he had been aware of a ploy to discredit not only Nzuza but the entire elected leadership.
“Those allegations are not true. I heard this from another journalist but personally I think you should speak to comrade Mzimela himself,” said Sabela. Mzimela is Nzuza’s nickname.
A delegate from Gauteng said: “This is not what young people need. We need young leaders who can inspire us, not people who are no strangers to crime. I voted for him but, guilty or not, we don’t need people who aren’t exemplary, ” she said.
Another ANCYL member from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, said even though he did not know Nzuza prior to the conference, he had confidence in him from what he had heard from comrades in KwaZulu-Natal.
“He’s still the SG, and he’s no longer facing those cases, but I’m disappointed. Had I learnt about this before the conference we would have raised it. Is it of any use now?” he asked.