Luntu Sokutu. (@ANCECape/Twitter)
Newly elected Eastern Cape ANC Youth League chairperson Luntu Sokutu has endorsed Aphiwe Mkhangelwa as his preferred candidate for president.
Speaking to the Mail & Guardian hours after his election, Sokutu said it was likely that the conference would endorse Mkhangelwa.
The youth league is expected to sit for its national conference this coming weekend, where Mkhangelwa will face off with Collen Malatji for the position. Dark horse Zuko Godlimpi is still to announce whether he will also stand.
Sokutu said Mkhangelwa — from the Chris Hani region, which is known to be the historical ground of senior party leaders Oscar Mabuyane, Enoch Godogwana and Gwede Mantashe — was the right leader for the job.
Taking a jab at other contenders, Sokutu said Mkhangelwa did not need the endorsement of party elders.
“History will tell you how young people have decided on comrade Aphiwe to lead the African National Congress Youth League without any instruction from ANC leaders, which is an important sign that convinced the branch that I come from, that the candidate that we should support is comrade Aphiwe,” he said.
Sokutu added that Mkhangelwa had also proven his fitness in government, having been the youngest senior manager at local government level in addition to a stint as an acting municipal manager at the Enoch Mgjima local municipality.
“We think his election and nomination by young people is the important sign we need, rather than those who rely on an endorsement by the African National Congress leadership, for them to be elected. Because as I said, the youth league doesn’t need lap dogs of ANC leaders,” Sokutu said.
“The league doesn’t need people who will convert the ANC Youth League into pocket knives of ANC leaders that want to achieve personal ambitions, which we know nothing about.
“And we’re confident that Aphiwe does not constitute that kind of leadership. And I’m saying that will be confirmed by the congress. I don’t want to preempt what they will say. But based on the motivation that was given in the branch that I come from and the region that I come from, I am confident that the same will be said by other delegates.”
Some Eastern Cape regions are said to have endorsed Mntuwoxolo Ngudle for the position of secretary general. Ngudle — who is currently heading the league’s task team — is part of Malatji’s slate in the province.
Asked if the congress would consider endorsing Ngudle, Sokutu said he would be supported fully should the conference back him, adding however that there was no indication Ngudle had received endorsement for the position.
“But I have not heard of a single structure of the ANC Youth League — I’m talking about branches — that say they want the ANCYL to have in its midst a person called Mntuwoxolo as its secretary general,” he said.
But Sokutu said he did not want to preempt the decision of the branches, adding that they would listen to the province’s regions on who they should support.
“If they say also elect Mntuwoxolo there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. On the basis that it comes from the Eastern Cape, we will go and work and lobby for that and we will be guided by delegates,” he said.