The election of Lebogang Maile as the ANC Youth League in Gauteng new chairperson is a blow to league president Julius Malema.
Maile, who was unofficially backed by Gauteng ANC chairperson Paul Mashatile, was contesting the position against Thabo Kupa, who was unofficially backed by Malema and Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
Voting took place at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni on Saturday, where Maile defeated Kupa by 300 votes to 276.
In a speech at the conference in Boksburg Malema told delegates none of the contestants had the leadership’s backing.
“If you are losing a congress, don’t blame it on us. And if you are winning a congress don’t put our names into your [speeches].
Disassociation
‘The president wants me, the president doesn’t want me. The chairman [sic] wants me, the chairman doesn’t want me. The NEC wants me, the NEC doesn’t want me’. Do your work. These are delegates here, talk to the delegates,” he said.
However the Gauteng conference of the ANC Youth League was supposed to be a coup for Malema — getting him endorsed for two more terms as league president.
The defeated Kupa, who was formerly league secretary, told the Mail & Guardian before the elections that a resolution for “Malema to serve for the next two terms” would be discussed and adopted. “Malema is still young; he can lead us in the next two terms,” he said.
Kupa is a vocal Malema supporter, while Maile is said to be “neutral” on the question of national leadership. Neither faction supports Malema’s opponent for the national post, Andile Lungisa.
Malema is pitted against his deputy Lungisa in next year’s elective congress, with factions for the two splitting the league. Gauteng is the first province where Malema’s supporters have lost since the league started holding provincial congresses in April, Business Day reported. His supporters already control KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Limpopo, the North West and Mpumalanga.
Endorsement
The Mpumalanga and Free State regions have passed resolutions endorsing Malema for the presidency in 2011.
The congress started about four hours late with supporters of the two contestants avoiding one another. Maile’s supporters sang and danced in the parking area while waiting for the congress to start, with Kupa’s supporters staying near the hall. — Sapa and the M&G
How big a role did cash play in swaying voters at the conference? Read: Money can buy Malema love.