ANC Eastern Cape secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi
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With just days before the ANC’s Youth League’s first national conference since 2015, factional battles are playing out in the Eastern Cape.
The province was meant to hold its conference ahead of this weekend’s national meeting, but the first day was marked by infighting between provincial leaders and the mother body.
Late on Monday night, defiant youth league leaders insisted they would convene the provincial conference despite a directive by the provincial secretary, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, that it be postponed.
In a letter sent on the first day of the provincial conference, Ngcukayitobi said the ANC’s secretaries forum had received a briefing from its organising department and the national youth league’s task team on the preparations for the Eastern Cape conference.
Ngcukayitobi said the forum agreed that any outstanding provincial conferences could only be held after the national one.
“The PEC [provincial executive committee] officials advise you to abide by these decisions, in line with the democratic centralism which is the anchor of the ANC discipline and to not continue with the planned provincial conference,” the letter read.
“It is with hope that you find the above in order and should you have any queries regarding this correspondence please do not hesitate to contact the office of the provincial secretary.”
The Eastern Cape youth league members said they had every intention to hold the provincial conference despite the directive. Those said to be linked to Ngcukayitobi are said to have boycotted the provincial conference.
On Monday evening, youth league provincial coordinator Bongani Mani told the Mail & Guardian that Ngcukayitobi had no right to give instructions.
“The league in the province has not been at conference for over eight years. Some of the ANC leaders have grown used to that kind of abnormality … It’s unfortunate that an ANC leadership would want to dictate how the youth league runs its business,” Mani said.
“The newly elected provincial executive committee will reflect on this. My duty was to make sure we have an elected structure and this is what we are trying to do.”
The impasse led to ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula calling for a late night meeting with the provincial structures. According to those who attended it, Mbalula told them that the provincial conference should continue despite the boycott.
The alleged interference by ANC leaders in the youth league’s matters is said to be frustrating efforts by the structure to go to its national conference.
In a recent interview with the M&G, youth league presidential hopeful Aphiwe Mkhangelwa accused the ruling party’s organising head, Mdu Manana, of attempting to influence processes.
Ngcukayitobi — who is said to have tacitly endorsed Vuyo Jali as his preferred candidate for youth league provincial chairperson — has also been accused of using his ANC position to influence the outcome of the provincial conference.
A letter Ngcukayitobi sent to Jali’s contender, Luntu Sokutu, requesting a court judgment regarding his assault conviction on the day of the conference, has also called into question the provincial secretaries’ impartiality.
Mani said it was unfortunate that Ngcukayitobi sent the letter on the first day of the structure’s conference, accusing the provincial secretary of “trying to settle political scores”.
“It’s a desperate attempt to bar Luntu from participating in the conference,” Mani said.
Sokutu told the M&G that although the letter did not mention the ANC’s step-aside policy — which compels party members facing criminal charges to relinquish their posts — it had caused suspicion.
Despite the boycott, Sokutu was elected unopposed in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Other top five elections included those of deputy chairperson, Zikhona Pakade; secretary, Mani; deputy secretary, Athi Daniso; and provincial treasurer, Unathi Hlathuka.
Responding to a question on Monday evening, Eastern Cape ANC spokesperson Loyiso Magqashela dismissed claims that Ngcukayitobi was attempting to influence the conference as unfounded, saying it was the duty of the secretary to write and communicate the decisions of a structure.
“Secondly, all that the PEC has said and done relating to the youth league in the Eastern Cape province is in tandem with what the national leadership has directed regarding the youth conference and what should transpire as a roadmap towards the national conference,” Magqashela said.
“These purported factions and divisions between the chairperson and secretary are only existent in the figment of one’s imagination and we condemn any wedge driver who goes around trying to sow divisions.
“Our leaders remain united, same as the structure of the PEC and are committed to the unity and renewal of the ANC in the province and beyond. We are fully aware of the meeting convened by the secretary general and the PEC will attend based on the invitation and contribute progressively as always.”
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the ANC would ensure that the youth league held its conference as scheduled at the weekend.
“We are not aware of any leader and if possible we frown upon any suggestion of any leader of the anc who gets to tell young people how to do their work and lead their process,” Bhengu said.
“The conference will happen and elect a legitimate structure and we are looking forward to having a solid youth leadership of the anc that will help us drive the twin tasks of the YL, which is to advance youth development at the same time the national democratic revolution.”