ANCYL has plans to broker positions
ANC YOUTH League candidates to succeed Collen Maine have thrown their weight behind an initiative to avoid a nasty battle for the presidency of the governing party’s youth wing.
KwaZulu-Natal, a power broker both in the affairs of the league and the mother body, is leading talks to ensure there is no contestation for the presidency of the organisation.
The province wants its secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo not to be challenged in exchange not to contest the other top four positions.
The league’s elective conference will take place between September 6 and 11 at Johannesburg’s Nasrec Expo Centre.
Youth league eThekwini regional spokesperson Thulisa Ndlela said although KwaZulu-Natal had initiated engagements, it was uncompromising on having Sabelo elected to lead.
“We are trying to have an uncontested congress as the youth league is trying to unite,” he said.
Ndlela said that in order to secure the presidency for Sabelo, the province would allow other provinces to come up with their preferred names for the other four positions in the top five.
“We are engaging with other provinces, saying ‘comrades, let us not contest each other, and instead we should reach consensus on other top positions. This will help to build the youth league, which has significant challenges’,” Ndlela said.
The league’s treasurer-general, Reggie Nkabinde, and national executive committee member Ndumiso Mokako had been earmarked to contest with Sabelo.
Sabelo was late last year endorsed by outgoing president Maine as his preferred replacement.
Ndlela said KZN was trying to avoid a situation where there were too many candidates.
“We are saying, ‘comrades, let us agree that Sabelo is a better person to lead us’. Now we have to also agree who should be secretary-general, who should be deputy, who should be treasurer.
“That is what we are trying to get to right now, which was why we have not nominated candidates for the top five,” he said.
Mokako, whose nomination mostly came from various regions of his Mpumalanga province, said the engagements were aimed at building a stronger and united league.
He described Sabelo and Nkabinde as his comrades and brothers and also indicated he was interested in becoming the president.
“When the time to nominate comes I will go to my branch and indicate whether I am available or not, depending on the outcome of the engagements,” Mokako said.
Sabelo said he would avail himself for the presidency, but whether he takes the position would depend on the outcome of engagements.