The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) was ready for its national congress later this month, despite a violence-plagued KwaZulu-Natal congress held over the past weekend, the ANCYL national task team said on Monday.
ANC national task team co-ordinator Nathi Mthethwa said the national congress would be held from 25 to 28 June.
“We are on track for the congress. The auditing of members have been completed. ANCYL members are to nominate names for election at the congress,” Mthethwa told journalists at a media briefing in Johannesburg.
Mthethwa said the behaviour of some of delegates at the KwaZulu-Natal ANCYL congress was unacceptable.
KZN congress disrupted
On Saturday, police fired rubber bullets to disperse rowdy members who felt aggrieved by the processes and disrupted the congress. The congress, held in Port Shepstone was scheduled to start on Saturday, but only got underway in the early hours of Sunday due to the violence and delays.
“We have noted the behaviour by some who also chose not to attend the KwaZulu-Natal congress. We call on members to adhere to the principles of the ANCYL,” he said.
“It was a duly constituted congress and a new leadership emerged from it. Those who did not support the new leadership have no choice but to support them because it is their new leadership elected at congress.”
The KwaZulu-Natal meeting was the last of the nine provincial congresses to be held.
Mthethwa would not respond to questions about ANCYL former treasurer Pule Mabe, whose supporters were campaigning for him to be elected at the upcoming congress. Mabe was reported to be over the age 35 this year. The cut off age for ANCYL members was 35.
“I cannot respond on behalf of individuals. Unfortunately, you will have to direct that to him [Mabe],” he said.
Details on the national congress are yet to be announced.