ANC Youth League R50m in the red

THE ANC Youth League is so broke that some of its leaders have to hitch a lift to get to work.

The league owes R50-million, most of it incurred during Julius Malema’s tenure, according to its new leaders.

The money woes have paralysed the league, on which the ANC relies to campaign for it during elections.

“It is difficult for us to move around,” said the league’s Magasela Mzobe.

Members exist on handouts from the ANC in the provinces and regions.

One prominent member, Shaka Sisulu, was told by the league’s treasurer-general that he needed to get a lift to the Northern Cape where he is to be deployed, according to Mzobe.

Sisulu eventually paid for his flight.

The league has not had a sustainable fundraising strategy since its investment arm, Lembede Investment Holdings, closed down after a national congress decision in 2008.

Mzobe said the league’s debt was “growing every week” with more and more businesses and individuals claiming they were owed money by the league.

“We are getting letters [of demand] every week,” he said. “To date it’s above R50-million.”

The company University Events Management has demanded R15-million for services rendered during the league’s chaotic national conference in Bloemfontein in 2008.

The league owes an undisclosed amount to Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng, for its 2011 national congress.

It has an outstanding R270 000 legal bill relating to a case in which a journalist was called a drunkard by former spokesman Floyd Shivambu.

Shivambu has since joined Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters. Mzobe said the bill would be forwarded to the EFF.

“The ANC must take that bill to the EFF. We won’t pay it. It’s unfortunate that he [Shivambu] was insulting people using the banner of the ANC Youth League.”

Shivambu hit back: “He is talking nonsense. The issue is being settled by the lawyers. We said we can give the apology [that the newspaper demanded]. There won’t be money paid by anyone. These are crazy allegations ... [Mzobe and fellow league official Mzwandile Masina] are struggling to find relevance in society, so they think they’ll find relevance by making such claims against us.”

Mzobe said the league would call to account its former leaders, including its former treasurergeneral, ANC national executive committee member Pule Mabe.