Punish Cyril’s supporters – ANCYL
Siweya, Mosase not threatened by attacks
The daggers are out for ANC Youth League (ANCYL) members campaigning for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to be the next ANC leader.
Yesterday, the league’s provincial structures in Gauteng, Limpopo and Free State called for disciplinary action against national executive committee (NEC) member Thembi Siweya and Gauteng regional task team member Abner Mosase for breaking ranks and campaigning for Ramaphosa.
The decision by the NEC to support Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has split the league. The call by the three ANCYL provincial structures comes two months before the ANC holds its elective conference.
ANCYL Gauteng chairman Matome Chiloane labelled Siweya and Mosase “counter-revolutionaries” who want to confuse society. “We are going to attend to them. They are demonstrating a high-level of ill-discipline,” he said.
“Thembi was in the NEC meeting when a resolution to back Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was adopted. She said nothing about Cyril.”
Youth League’s Free State secretary, Reagan Booysen, said the province would push for Siweya and Mosase to be expelled from the ANCYL when the league holds its NEC meeting later this month.
The ANCYL in Limpopo, where Siweya comes from, said it wanted Siweya to be expelled from the league.
Siweya remained defiant yesterday, saying: “The call for my suspension from those provinces is an unfortunate pronouncement. The [ANC] branch I belong to has already held a pre-nomination BGM [branch general meeting] and pronounced comrade Cyril Ramaphosa as its preferred candidate. Those leaders calling for my suspension should remember that the December conference is a conference of the ANC and not its [the league’s].”
Mosase said Nelson Mandela would turn in his grave if Ramaphosa was not elected ANC president.
“I have an individual right as a member of the ANC to support Cyril,” he said.
ANCYL president Collen Maine said the league would apply its mind and take whatever decision it deems necessary.
“Calling for their expulsion is not going to assist the ANC. We should help prevent the ANC from collapsing. We need each other more than ever,” said Maine.