/ 13 October 2011

Axed Masoga gets ANC leadership job

Former youth league regional chair Lehlogonolo Masoga has won an ANC leadership position despite being expelled by league president Julius Malema.

Former Limpopo ANC Youth League regional chairperson Lehlogonolo Masoga has won an ANC leadership position despite being expelled by league president Julius Malema last year.

He was elected deputy president of an ANC branch in Polokwane at the weekend.

“It is a relief to be in the leadership again,” Masoga said on Thursday. “Some people have already written my obituary, so it is good to prove them wrong.”

Masoga was elected deputy president of the Cuito Cuanavale branch in Flora Park, Polokwane.

He was expelled from the youth league for a range of infractions last year. These ranged from impeding the proper functioning of the league, to creating divisions at an elective conference held in Makhado, Limpopo last year.

Masoga tried to obtain a court interdict to prevent his expulsion, but pulled out after the ANC national leadership promised to intervene.

He was not re-instated.

“For me, [being back] is business as usual. I have always considered myself a child of the ANC, and I will always call the ANC home,” he said.

“I followed due processes, and did my part, but that is all water under the bridge now.”

On Thursday, it was reported that Peter Mokaba regional chairperson and alleged Malema supporter Lawrence Mapoulo, tried to disqualify delegates supporting Masoga at the recent elective meeting.

“That meeting is now history. The Polokwane ANC will only focus on the future,” Masoga said.

Newly elected ANC Polokwane secretary Boiki Tsedu said the branch’s leadership wanted a fresh start.

“The meeting was between members of the ANC. We don’t want the newly elected leaders to be dragged into all of these issues,” said Tsedu.

“Ultimately, we have been elected to unify the [Polokwane] branch, and that is what we are going to try and do.”

Masoga declined to comment on Malema’s disciplinary hearings.

Malema is being charged with bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing division in the party. His hearing was scheduled to take place on October 5, but was postponed after he fell ill. — Sapa