Zuma’s stern message to youth league’s new leaders
“NO MORE!”
This was President Jacob Zuma’s stern warning to the newly elected ANC Youth League leaders not to mimic Julius Malema by taking on leaders of the ruling party.
Addressing the youth league’s elective congress in Midrand yesterday, Zuma told its new leadership never to challenge decisions of the ANC.
“Once the youth league begins to emphasise the autonomy of the youth league you must know they are thinking of a breakaway . . . don’t begin to emphasise autonomy. No more,” said Zuma.
He was indirectly making reference to Malema and other former youth league leaders who engaged in a running battle with the Zuma-led ANC in 2010 and 2011. The battle ended with Malema being expelled from the ANC and forming his own party — the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Zuma spoke at the ANC Youth League congress a day after the election of North West MEC for local government Collen Maine as the new president.
His election, unopposed, bolstered the “premier league” — a group of ANC leaders who are said to be building support to influence the outcome of the 2017 ANC elective congress where Zuma’s successor will be chosen.
The premier league showed its hand this week when North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo failed to contain his excitement when Maine, his protégé, was elected.
A beaming Mahumapelo walked up to the stage minutes after Maine was announced the winner and hugged ANC leaders seated at the top table.
Mahumapelo, Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza, Free State Pre- mier Ace Magashule and KwaZuluNatal provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala were said to be behind Maine’s campaign.
Mabuza’s ally, Desmond Moela, was elected Maine’s deputy, while “Zikalala’s man”, Njabulo Nzuza, was chosen as secretary-general.
Reggie Nkabinde, elected treasurer-general, is known to be a close ally of Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.
Thandi Morake from Limpopo was elected deputy secretary-general.
Mahumapelo, Mabuza and Magashula are said to be eyeing top six positions in 2017. Although they have not come out publicly, insiders say their campaign is linked to the campaign for a woman president.
Last month their ally, Bathabile Dlamini, was elected president of the ANC Women’s League. Dlamini told the Sunday Times the league would lobby for a female candidate for the presidency.
She did not mention names, but it is understood the league might push for the name of African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Last week Maine said he was not opposed to a female candidate.
“Personally I don’t think it’s a problem,” he said.
Although his election eventually happened unopposed, it was not without controversy. There were several attempts on Friday night to challenge Maine, but none of the candidates received enough support from voting delegates.
Because only Maine had been nominated by provinces, his opponents nominated challengers from the floor.
First to try his luck was ANC MP Pule Mabe. But he failed to get the required 701 votes out of 2 803 to qualify him to take on Maine.
Next was former youth league deputy president Ronald Lamola, who suffered the same fate as Mabe.
But his supporters refused to accept the outcome and demanded that the election commission conduct a vote recount.
The election commission had its
Don’t begin to emphasise autonomy. No more
hands full as speaker after speaker accused it of being biased in favour of Maine.
The matter was resolved through a vote, with a sea of hands voting to close the nomination process.
Lamola was scathing of the conduct of the election commission when he was again nominated for the post of deputy president.
“The election commission has proven itself not to be credible. I will not participate in a farce of a process. You are not running a credible election,” Lamola said.
Lamola was later criticised by Mabe, who told the Sunday Times:
“Once you agree to participate in a democratic process you have a responsibility to honour the outcome.”
Zuma said problems in the youth league began at its chaotic 2008 congress in Mangaung, Free State, where Malema was first elected.