/ 2 October 2011

KZN youth league branch disbanded

Kzn Youth League Branch Disbanded

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has disbanded the provincial executive committee (PEC) of its KwaZulu-Natal branch, it said on Sunday.

“Of great concern is … that throughout their disregard of organisational process and due political conduct, the PEC did not express any intention to receive political guidance from the national executive committee (NEC),” league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said in a statement.

He said the PEC defined itself outside the resolutions and guidance of the youth league’s congress by making statements that the NEC was a “factionalist formation”.

The decision was taken at an ANCYL NEC meeting held in the province on Saturday.

The ANCYL planned to charge certain PEC members for “active involvement in mobilising members … to defy and disregard the decisions of the NEC”.

Those expected to be charged were former chairperson Mthandeni Dlungwane, former deputy secretary Siboniso Duma and former treasurer Yolanda Young.

Duma claimed the NEC was “factionalist” at a special meeting to discuss possible disbandment last Saturday.

He said they were being targeted because of their backing President Jacob Zuma to serve a second term.

A task team would be set up as the official voice of the provincial youth league until the provincial congress.

‘False alarms’
In a statement on Monday, Shivambu accused the trio of raising “false alarms and creating confusion amongst members of the ANCYL in KwaZulu-Natal for purposes not known to the leadership collective”.

Last weekend, regional leaders raised concerns about how their leaders communicated “contradictory and misleading messages” on behalf of the league.

Responding to the branch’s absence during a meeting to discuss the allegations, Shivambu claimed these leaders preferred rather to run to radio stations and newspapers to air their views.

“When presented with an official platform to engage the national leadership on their concerns and speculations, the ANCYL KwaZulu-Natal leaders gave excuses as a sign of cowardice,” he said.

He added the issue around succession remained closed and that the league would not allow discussions on the matter.

“We are aware that other provinces and regions of the ANCYL enquired on whether the succession debate is open because of the pronouncements of the ANCYL KwaZulu-Natal leadership and we would like to assure them that it is not yet open and appropriate processes will ensue once it is opened,” he explained. — Sapa, M&G