Former president Thabo Mbeki was the “best” leader produced by the ANC, said ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, the Times reported on Monday.
“Mbeki is the best leader the ANC has ever produced. There are those who hated him with a passion but forgot that Mbeki, during his leadership, had produced a two-thirds majority during elections,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.
“Those who hate Mbeki are jealous of his achievements. He was the most educated and clever.
“The only problem with Mbeki was failing to allow the leadership the ANC to decide on who they wanted in the leadership, and for wanting a third term in leading the organisation. Apart from that he was the best and I respect him for that,” Malema was quoted as saying by the Times in his speech at a meeting of the league’s Limpopo provincial general council in Polokwane.
ANC complains about ‘ghost sources’
Meanwhile, ANC spokesperson Brian Sokutu told the South African Press Association that leaders found lobbying for preferred candidates or interfering in the youth league’s elective conference later this month may face disciplinary action.
“We don’t want to see any interference in the elective conference process, or with NEC [national executive committee] members coming up with preferred candidates who they want to see in the new leadership of ANCYL,” said Sokutu.
“The organisation will not hesitate to bring such leaders before the ANC national disciplinary committee. It would, therefore, not be prudent of any ANC leaders to involve themselves in any lobbying or preference activities, including allegations of a disruptive nature in the build-up to the forthcoming conference.”
“It is in this vein that we would like to restate that the NEC of the ANC has no preferred candidates for the presidency or any other leadership position in the youth league,” the party said in a statement.
“It is against this background that the ANC leadership will work with any leadership that is democratically elected by the ANCYL at its national conference.”
Sokutu emphasised that the ANCYL conference had nothing to do with the ANC leadership including President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and secretary general Gwede Mantashe.
“ANC structures have not as yet pronounced on their preferred candidates for the ANC leadership. They will do so at an appropriate time in 2012 prior to the ANC national elective conference.
“We would therefore like to restate that the upcoming ANCYL elective conference has absolutely no bearing and is no precursor to the ANC elective conference in 2012.”
The ANC said it also noted with “concern” insinuations made in the media on the unseating of Zuma.
“We have noted that in the period leading to the ANC national general council, the same negative sentiments — quoting ghost sources within the ANC and its youth league — were made. Those sections of the media who predicted gloom and mayhem at the ANC NGC were made to eat humble pie as the NGC proceeded with its mandated constitutional work without any glitches,” the statement said. – Sapa