The deputy president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has apologised after raising his views on who should lead the ANC in 2007.
Reuben Mohlaloga apologised for raising his views outside the working structures of the ANCYL by speaking to newspapers before discussing the matter with the league, ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The apology was made during the ANCYL’s extended national working committee (NWC) meeting on Tuesday.
Mbalula said Mohlaloga did not apologise for his point of view, but only for expressing it through the press.
The ANCYL does not support the creation of two centres of power — which would occur if President Thabo Mbeki continues as ANC president while the country’s Constitution prevents him from running for a third term.
This view was expressed by Mbalula in an ANCYL online newsletter after Mbeki had said earlier this year that he would consider running for another term as ANC president if the party asked him to do so.
However, Mohlaloga told newspapers he saw this as an attack on Mbeki. The Eastern Cape ANCYL also distanced itself from Mbalula’s comments.
ANCYL secretary general Sihle Zikalala said on Wednesday both the Eastern Cape and Mohlaloga were given an opportunity to present their points of view at the NWC meeting.
”Having engaged and discussed robustly all the issues, the meeting overwhelmingly confirmed that the issues of succession and the two centres of power were and remain principle positions of the organisation,” he said.
”The views expressed by the …. [ANCYL] deputy president have never been raised in any constitutional meeting or a structure of the ANCYL organisation.
”The ANCYL deputy president, having understood this, unreservedly and unconditionally apologised to the organisation.”
The Eastern Cape ANCYL did not apologise, but resolved that Mbalula’s comments were not an attack on Mbeki, Zikalala said.
The Eastern Cape ANCYL and Mohlaloga were not asked to retract their point of view.
Mbalula said if Mohlaloga, who was not at Wednesday’s media briefing, feels the ANCYL has to change it position on the two centres of power, he would have to convince the majority of the organisation.
”They have to converse broadly … within the structures of the organisation if they feel the debate must be reopened. We are not running a kindergarten,” he said.
On Mbeki saying he might consider standing for another term, Mbalula said Mbeki has the right to do so if he wants, as the Constitution of the ANC does not limit how long one can be president.
Asked if the ANCYL would prefer it if Mbeki does not stand for president, Mbalula said: ”He has a right to stand.”
Asked if the ANCYL has any alternatives to the two centres of power, he said the organisation still needs to debate the matter. — Sapa