The African National Congress Youth League laid on a business networking lounge at its conference for the first time this weekend, affording executives the opportunity to rub shoulders with the young politicians.
Treasurer general Pule Mabe was in charge of the lounge at the Gallagher Estate conference centre in Midrand. Mabe told the Mail & Guardian that the league had decided to establish its own networking lounge to “build relationships with both business and civil society”.
The African National Congress has a business lounge at all its big national events, but the league, until this year, had not tried it.
“We also use the lounge as a fundraising initiative, which draws resources from both business and individuals,” said Mabe.
Four packages were on offer — from the R50 000 Anton Lembede package for one person, to the R180 000 Walter Sisulu package, which allowed entry for five people.
Ins and outs of the league
Mabe said it was important that the league’s vision was understood.
“What people know about the youth league comes from the media. So here they can get to know the ins and outs of the youth league.”
The league is pushing for the nationalisation of the country’s mines.
“We were giving it a try. Strangely, we have drawn quite a lot of mining companies. If we thought there was a problem with our policy positions the [picture on the] ground is telling us something different”.
Mining magnate Patrice Motsepe and his African Rainbow Minerals bought a package and delegations from Anglo American and AngloGold Ashanti answered the youth league’s networking call, according to Mabe.
The lounge, which was also open to the media, has been running since Thursday and will close on Sunday.
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