/ 8 April 2008

Hamstrung ANCYL looks to Mantashe for help

The national congress of the African National Congress Youth League was indefinitely postponed on Monday evening after being unable to finish its work or confirm the results of its leadership election.

Electoral commission member Malusi Gigaba told journalists in Bloemfontein that the League would ask the ANC to help solve its differences.

”We will recommend to [ANC] secretary general Gwede Mantashe that a team of national executive committee members assist the ANCYL to establish the validity of issues raised.”

Gigaba said the national conference would either reconvene, or a special national conference would be held to finish the uncompleted work.

He said no time frame could be set as all would depend on the ANC’s guidance and advice to the ANCYL.

”We will try to meet Mantashe as soon as possible because it is an important matter.”

Gigaba could not say what the status of the newly elected top five leaders were.

The biggest challenge faced by the conference was logistical rather than political, he said.

The league’s congress in Bloemfontein reconvened on Monday after announcing its new leaders. The conference had adjourned to discuss a dispute over the process of counting and voting.

Earlier, the ANCYL election steering committee, the electoral commission and the election agency met for most of Monday afternoon to discuss the ”cloud” that hung over the newly elected leadership.

ANCYL spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said concerns should be substantiated by evidence.

Earlier in the day, Julius Molema was elected president. He received 1 883 votes while the other candidate, Sakie Mofokeng, received 1 696 votes.

Hundreds of delegates erupted in celebration when the votes for Malema and Mofokeng were announced.

Andile Lungisa was elected deputy president and Vuyiswa Tulelo, the only woman in the top five, was elected secretary general.

The new deputy secretary general is Steven Ngobeni and the new treasurer general is Pule Maba.

The ANCYL had adjourned its congress moments after announcing its new leaders in order to address objections against the election process.

Kodwa told journalists waiting to interview newly elected president Malema that there was dispute about the election of the top five leaders.

”There was an issue that was raised in the election agency about some matters of dispute in the process of counting and voting.” — Sapa