Divisions within the Eastern Cape ANC Youth League ahead of its national congress last weekend have cost the province dearly.
Only two members from the province made it into the party’s national executive committee (NEC), which is the league’s second most powerful body between conferences.
Former ANCYL provincial deputy chairman Mbasa Sityi and former Buffalo City Metro (BCM) ANCYL regional treasurer Princess Faku made it into the 35-member NEC.
This is half the number of NEC members from the province elected into the two previous NECs.
During the 2010 Gallagher conference where Julius Malema was elected for a second term as ANCYL president, four Eastern Cape youths formed part of the NEC.
They were Ntombizanele Koni, Thando Mase, Nomfesane Nyathela and Andile Lungisa.
The Daily Dispatch first hinted at the deep ANCYL divisions on the eve of last week’s provincial general council (PGC) held at the University of Fort Hare’s Alice campus.
This was after the provincial executive committee (PEC) committed to support any lineup which would offer Eastern Cape’s Mawethu Rune the secretary-general position.
But the PEC’s position could not be affirmed at the PGC as the meeting had no quorum.
As a result the 420 delegates supported four different presidential hopefuls – the newly elected president Collen Maine, Pule Mabe, Lesego Makhubela and ANCYL’s former deputy president Ronald Lamola.
Even the PGC failed to reconcile the lineups and come up with a united voice.
Instead the gathering was reduced to just a talk shop.
This was despite the province sending the fourth-biggest delegation, with KwaZulu-Natal topping the list followed by Limpopo and Gauteng.
The province was even outclassed by the smallest province, according to YL membership – the Northern Cape.
Northern Cape only had about 125 delegates but managed to secure three seats on the NEC.
Just like in the ANC NEC, Kwazulu-Natal remains dominant in the ANCYL’s NEC.
Having sent about 600 delegates to the conference – the biggest delegation – KZN secured the secretary-general position currently held by its own Njabulo Nzuza, as well as eight additional members from the province.
Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo all have five representatives in the NEC, while the North West has four.
ANCYL provincial secretary Ayongezwa Lungisa said what was important was that there was now a structure leading the ANCYL, and the two formed part of that collective.
“As the youth league in the Eastern Cape we welcome the election of the entire leadership, including those from our province.
“Our hope is that they understand the scourge of unemployment, poverty and inequality,” said Lungisa. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
EC’s Youth League shoots itself in foot
Only two members from the province made it into the party’s national executive committee (NEC), which is the league’s second most powerful body between conferences.
Former ANCYL provincial deputy chairman Mbasa Sityi and former Buffalo City Metro (BCM) ANCYL regional treasurer Princess Faku made it into the 35-member NEC.
This is half the number of NEC members from the province elected into the two previous NECs.
During the 2010 Gallagher conference where Julius Malema was elected for a second term as ANCYL president, four Eastern Cape youths formed part of the NEC.
They were Ntombizanele Koni, Thando Mase, Nomfesane Nyathela and Andile Lungisa.
The Daily Dispatch first hinted at the deep ANCYL divisions on the eve of last week’s provincial general council (PGC) held at the University of Fort Hare’s Alice campus.
This was after the provincial executive committee (PEC) committed to support any lineup which would offer Eastern Cape’s Mawethu Rune the secretary-general position.
But the PEC’s position could not be affirmed at the PGC as the meeting had no quorum.
As a result the 420 delegates supported four different presidential hopefuls – the newly elected president Collen Maine, Pule Mabe, Lesego Makhubela and ANCYL’s former deputy president Ronald Lamola.
Even the PGC failed to reconcile the lineups and come up with a united voice.
Instead the gathering was reduced to just a talk shop.
This was despite the province sending the fourth-biggest delegation, with KwaZulu-Natal topping the list followed by Limpopo and Gauteng.
The province was even outclassed by the smallest province, according to YL membership – the Northern Cape.
Northern Cape only had about 125 delegates but managed to secure three seats on the NEC.
Just like in the ANC NEC, Kwazulu-Natal remains dominant in the ANCYL’s NEC.
Having sent about 600 delegates to the conference – the biggest delegation – KZN secured the secretary-general position currently held by its own Njabulo Nzuza, as well as eight additional members from the province.
Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo all have five representatives in the NEC, while the North West has four.
ANCYL provincial secretary Ayongezwa Lungisa said what was important was that there was now a structure leading the ANCYL, and the two formed part of that collective.
“As the youth league in the Eastern Cape we welcome the election of the entire leadership, including those from our province.
“Our hope is that they understand the scourge of unemployment, poverty and inequality,” said Lungisa. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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