Mantashe, Phosa tiff linked to Mangaung

THE STAND-OFF between secretarygeneral Gwede Mantashe and treasurer-general Mathews Phosa over the disciplinary action taken against ANC Youth League is the latest salvo in the battle for the position of secretary-general, say league insiders.

ANC Youth League national executive members speaking to the Cape Argus yesterday said the drive to have Mantashe replaced by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, a former youth league leader, at Mangaung in December was shifting into gear.

Despite the ANC’S attempts to show a united front, dissent among the top six officials boiled over into the public domain this week when Mantashe released a statement rebuking Phosa for coming out in support of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

At an ANC centenary celebration in Limpopo at the weekend, Phosa said the party would not condemn the youth leaders, who all face sanctions for misconduct, to the dustbin of history.

Mantashe said in a statement on Tuesday that Phosa’s comments could be construed as “trying to influence the outcome” of the disciplinary processes of the youth league leaders and warned that ANC leaders must stick to the party line.

Phosa wields significant power in the party and was one of the key players in ensuring that President Jacob Zuma was elected ANC leader.

Phosa was said to have met Mantashe on Tuesday to discuss the treasurer-general’s latest comments and it was decided that Mantashe alone would comment on the matter.

Phosa and the ANC Youth League have written to the secretary-general accusing him of being inconsistent in his rebuke of ANC leaders who commented in public on the disciplinary cases of the ANC Youth League leadership.