Row over ANC Youth League nominations for elective conference
The ANC Youth League’s interim structure in the Eastern Cape has accused the national youth task team of failing to follow the party’s nomination rules ahead of its December elective conference.
The task team nominated NEC member and former health minister Zweli Mkhize as president, acting secretary-general and treasurer-general Paul Mashatile as deputy president, Limpopo provincial chair and premier Stanley Mathabatha as chair, NEC member and transport minister Fikile Mbalula as secretary-general, NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane as his deputy and party spokesperson Pule Mabe as treasurer-general.
However, the league’s provincial structure said the rules stated that the consolidation of the youth league’s nominations would be done at a national level from nominations that had been made by the league’s branches.
In this case, the province said, the task team had not followed the rules by consolidating the ANCYL’S nominations. Provincial fundraiser Luntu Sokutu said the task team had instead consolidated ANCYL nominations through votes by task team members “for their individual preferences”.
“It then happened that the majority of the task team members voted for and supported Mkhize for the position of president.”
The league in the province reiterated its support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s re-election bid, with provincial chair and premier Oscar Mabuyane as his deputy.
“We will continue engaging other structures and members of our preferred candidates for the NEC and for our policy positions that we want taken in the 55th national conference,” Sokutu said.
National youth task team convener Nonceba Mhlauli denied any wrongdoing.
She said the task team had followed the guidelines for determining the league nomination processes.
“The guidelines do not stipulate a process of consultation with lower structures,” Mhlawuli said.
“Though it would have been ideal to consult lower structures, the task team, as the highest decision-making body, in its wisdom followed the guidelines.”
According to the latest audited membership figures released this week by Mashatile, the ANC in the province will send 659 delegates to the conference.
It’s the second-biggest delegation after Kwazulu-natal and its 881 delegates. A total of 4,068 ANC delegates from across nine provinces will attend the conference at Nasrec, Johannesburg, in December.
Insiders said lobbying was in full swing, and the province was pulling out all the stops in its campaign for the top-six spots.
A highly placed source said that Mashatile, who is also eyeing the deputy president position, had dumped Mkhize’s camp for Ramaphosa’s.
The source said Mashatile had already begun negotiations with Mabuyane.
He reportedly asked Mabuyane to consider contesting the treasurer-general position.
However, it was not clear what had transpired from the meeting.
“Mashatile and Mabuyane had a meeting at the weekend,” the source said.
“This is a big boost for Mabuyane because the Eastern Cape has numerical strength.
“Mkhize and Mashatile are out — their GP-KZN axis is too weak numerically.”
Mabuyane was tight-lipped on
Wednesday when he was asked about the meeting.
Another prominent Eastern Cape leader, former premier Phumulo Masualle, is making strides in his campaign for the secretary-general’s position, his camp said.
Masualle’s backers said he was leading branch nominations in Kwazulunatal for the SG position, with Mkhize ahead of Ramaphosa in the presidential battle.
A number of branches — Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, North West, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape — have reportedly rallied behind his bid.
“Mkhize and Masualle will get 300 out of more than 600 EC delegates,” the source said.
Another insider said this year’s nominations had been more about the “generational battle”.
“For the first time since 1991, six candidates contesting the top six positions within the same elective conference are under the age of 50,” the source said.
“The branches have heeded the call to urgently usher in new blood.”