ANC Youth League wants Zweli Mkhize

IF ANC alliance partners have their way, President Cyril Ramaphosa would not be standing for a second term as party leader at the 55th party elective conference next month.

This week, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) national task team said it preferred Dr Zweli Mkhize to become president of the party.

The ANC Women’s League was supposed to hold a press conference to announce its preferred candidate yesterday, but cancelled. Insiders said it preferred Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for the top job.

At the same time, tripartite alliance partner SACP is considering entering the 2024 general election, supported by Cosatu. The ANC Veterans League hinted that Ramaphosa was not its preferred candidate.

In a statement issued by the ANCYL yesterday, it expressed its wish for Mkhize to be president, Paul Mashatile to deputise him, Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha as chairperson, Fikile Mbalula as secretary-general to be deputised by Nomvula Mokonyane and Pule Mabe as treasurer-general.

The statement read: “Over the next few weeks, as the ANCYL National Youth Task Team, we will be rallying young people across all corners of the Republic of South Africa behind efforts aimed at ending sufferings and palpable poverty in our communities.

“As we approach the 54th national conference of the ANC, we have agreed that young lions must be an integral part of all processes that will ensure that this organisation emerges from this gathering with a clear implementation plan of its progressive policies and resolutions that will be adopted.”

It said it would convene a meeting to discuss matters of policy and constitutional amendments as a mandate that would be given to 40 delegates of the ANCYL at the national conference.

“Through our robust engagement, over the weekend and yesterday in particular, we agreed that we must elect leaders that will ensure that young people’s potential is harnessed in order to guarantee the acceleration of socio-economic development throughout the corners of this country.”