/ 23 July 2012

ANC Youth League in Gauteng grows Malema-weary

Despite the expulsion of Malema by the ANC earlier this year the league's NEC has insisted that he stay president until its next elective conference in 2014.
Despite the expulsion of Malema by the ANC earlier this year the league's NEC has insisted that he stay president until its next elective conference in 2014.

"Mr Malema is no longer president and we want the [league] to move on," provincial deputy chairperson Simon Molefe told reporters in Johannesburg.

"The deputy president [Ronald Lamola] is acting president and we want the NEC [national executive committee] to implement that."

Despite the expulsion of Malema by the ANC earlier this year the league's NEC has insisted that he stay president until its next elective conference in 2014.

Molefe said Malema continued to insult the movement and the ANC leadership which was unacceptable.

The league in Gauteng also distanced itself from a group calling itself Friends of the Youth League.

"It [the provincial executive committee] characterised the formation as counter-revolutionary, primarily aimed at undermining the authority of the ANC as well as seeking to sow divisions within the organisation in the build up to the Mangaung congress," Molefe said.

"This formation is no different to how [the Congress of the People] came into existence, primarily informed by a reluctance to accept outcomes of internal ANC processes."

Concerned by silence
Molefe said the PEC was concerned by the league's national executive committee's silence on the group and urged it to publicly announce where it stood.

Friends of the Youth League was established shortly after Malema was expelled from the ANC. It organises events around the country at which Malema can address supporters.

Despite Gauteng's dismissal of the group the league in Limpopo has said it supports Friends of the Youth League.

Gauteng acting provincial secretary Nkhensani Kubayi said this was one of the reasons the Gauteng PEC wanted the NEC to publicly announce its position.

She said that after analysing the events organised by the group it was clear that Friends of the Youth League was against the ANC and the league.

"When they continue to insult the leaders of our movement we cannot have a relationship with them. We need to put a stop to the terms of association [with the group]."

PEC member Castro Tsiweng said the league had to defend the integrity of the ANC.

"If people are our friends why don't they join the youth league," he said.

"We don't need more friends, we have many."

'Unity and cohesion'
Molefe said the Gauteng league would take disciplinary action against any of it members or structures within the province who associated themselves with the group.

"The unity and cohesion of the ANC is paramount, and no individuals should be allowed to undermine such, especially those that are no longer members of the organisation," said Molefe.

When asked how the league would feel if the NEC said it did support Friends of the Youth League, Molefe said that would be disappointing." They are the enemy of the revolution, they are the enemy of the ANC Youth League," he said.

Suspended youth league secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and suspended spokesperson Floyd Shivambu have attended Friends of the Youth League events.

Kubayi said Magaqa and Shivambu had specific conditions they had to comply with and that it was up to the ANC to decide if they had contravened those conditions by being seen with Malema.

She reiterated that the PEC had welcomed their suspension.

Molefe said Magaqa and Shivambu had a responsibility to behave themselves.

"If they don't we'll call on the mother body to step in. If you fail to rehabilitate yourself you must leave the movement," he said.

"You find the two of them running after him [Malema] like students after a pop star." – Sapa