The ANC’s provincial leadership says is it concerned about deepening divisions between two University of Fort Hare student organizations aligned to it.
A power struggle is believed to be at the centre of ongoing enmity between the South African Student Congress (Sasco) and the ANC Youth League.
The leaguers have an arrangement with the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa Student Movement for today’s student representative council elections, which is not ANC-aligned although its mother body, Denosa, is a Cosatu affiliate.
The two groupings – Sasco on the one hand and the ANCYL and Denosa SM on the other – held their siyanqoba rallies at different venues on the East London campus last night.
And the ANC’s provincial executive council (PEC) was caught in the middle.
PEC treasurer Babalo Madikizela was expected to address the Denosa SM-ANCYL rally. At the other venue, PEC spokeswoman Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and ANCYL secretary-general Njabulo Nzuza were billed to address the Sasco rally.
ANC provincial chairman Oscar Mabuyane said it was concerning that despite all attempts to bring the organisations together, the divisions were still there.
“It is unfortunate, because they were supposed to be joining hands and working in solidarity towards a common goal.”
Sasco chairman Lwazi Mkiti said they were worried about their strained relations with the ANCYL.
“We hope the speakers will be able to address the issue,” he said before last night’s rallies.
ANCYL chairman Sonwabiso Mamkeli said they were busy with the Denosa SM rally because they were not aware of the programmes of Sasco.
“What is happening with Sasco does not concern us. We are carrying on with our programmes,” he said.
Last year, the ANCYL was barred from contesting the election after its national leadership instructed the IEC to remove the organisation from the ballot. They are not contesting again this year.
Sasco-ANCYL rift worries ANC
A power struggle is believed to be at the centre of ongoing enmity between the South African Student Congress (Sasco) and the ANC Youth League.
The leaguers have an arrangement with the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa Student Movement for today’s student representative council elections, which is not ANC-aligned although its mother body, Denosa, is a Cosatu affiliate.
The two groupings – Sasco on the one hand and the ANCYL and Denosa SM on the other – held their siyanqoba rallies at different venues on the East London campus last night.
And the ANC’s provincial executive council (PEC) was caught in the middle.
PEC treasurer Babalo Madikizela was expected to address the Denosa SM-ANCYL rally. At the other venue, PEC spokeswoman Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and ANCYL secretary-general Njabulo Nzuza were billed to address the Sasco rally.
ANC provincial chairman Oscar Mabuyane said it was concerning that despite all attempts to bring the organisations together, the divisions were still there.
“It is unfortunate, because they were supposed to be joining hands and working in solidarity towards a common goal.”
Sasco chairman Lwazi Mkiti said they were worried about their strained relations with the ANCYL.
“We hope the speakers will be able to address the issue,” he said before last night’s rallies.
ANCYL chairman Sonwabiso Mamkeli said they were busy with the Denosa SM rally because they were not aware of the programmes of Sasco.
“What is happening with Sasco does not concern us. We are carrying on with our programmes,” he said.
Last year, the ANCYL was barred from contesting the election after its national leadership instructed the IEC to remove the organisation from the ballot. They are not contesting again this year.
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