/ 6 October 2015

ANCYL leader Collen Maine will not give up his MEC salary

The new ANC Youth president
The new ANC Youth president

Newly elected ANC Youth League President Collen Maine is not prepared to give up the perks of being an MEC even after being elected to lead the youth structure. 

The youth league has confirmed that Maine will not give up his R1.6-million salary as he would not resign as MEC for local government in the North West  

A day after he was elected in September, Maine told a press conference that he would step down from his position. 

“I understand that the president of the youth league is a full-time position so the youth league and the ANC will engage on that particular matter,” Maine said at the time. 

Not full back
However, ANCYL secretary Njabulo Nzuza said the league’s national executive committee decided that the role of the president would not be a full-time one. 

Traditionally, youth league presidents were full time at the ANC’s headquarters, Luthuli House. 

“We have taken a decision that the constitution of the ANC Youth League says the secretary-general is full-time in the organisation. The NEC must decide which other positions are full time. And in an NEC meeting that we held we resolved that the president will not be full time,” Nzuza said. 

This is despite a resolution of the conference that the top five leaders of the league would work full time at ANC headquarters. 

Nzuza said Maine would continue being the MEC or act in any role deployed by the ANC. 

“The only full-time positions is the treasurer general and the secretary general as prescribed by the constitution,” Nzuza said. 

He said Maine would still be committed to the mandate he received of leading the youth. 

Dual responsibility
“He is going to be here (at the youth league headquarters) and servicing his people there ( in the North West),” Nzuza said. 

After being elected, Maine said he was not concerned over salary cuts if it meant serving his organisation. 

He was unavailable on Tuesday for comment. 

“Whether there is a salary cut or not we have a responsibility given by congress,” he said at the time, adding;“As it relates to packages when we get elected, the oath you take as members of the youth league is that you don’t expect any material benefit,” he said. 

According to the 2014 figures, Maine earned approximately R1.6-million per annum.

At the same time, he enjoys the luxury of a plush German sedan and a state house, among other benefits.