New president of ANCYL visits Kby
May 14 2008 12:03:38:643PM  - (SA)  
Ishmael Modiba

Druk artikel   E-pos storie aan 'n vriend

Malema’s visit came after some members of the ANCYL in the Frances Baard municipal area insinuated that they did not recognise his presidency.

Speaking at the Mayibuye Arts Centre in Galeshewe, Malema said there was no rule in the ANC that said the president needed the Provincial Executive Committee’s (PEC) permission to visit the branches.

“So this president will not be charged by anybody,” said Malema to ANCYL members who managed to evade the inclement weather conditions to listen to their new leader.

He said: “When you operate firm in your position you sometimes get threatened and even released from your position.”

However, he said, it was important to reflect and see how past presidents survived.

“These challenges are not new and this does not mean the end of the ANC,” he said.

He said once members of the league shy away from being vocal then the league becomes something else. He reminded members at the packed Mayibuye Arts Centre that the Polokwane conference was over and that it was time to defend the gains of that conference.

He warned those who were against his visit to the province that anyone who wanted to disrupt his leadership should not be voted into office positions.

Malema made an example of the late Peter Mokaba as a disciplined leader elected in various political positions.

“Mokaba never compromised on what he firmly believed in and was always militant. He was never shaken about what people said about him.”

Malema added that Mokaba was a firm leader and “today we lead because of the leadership that he taught us”.

“Some of us learned from from him as he led with the toyi-toyi.”

He said Mokaba was an all-rounder in his life.

About the results of the disputed conference held in Mangaung recently he said people who refused to accept the outcome of the conference had the support of the seven PECs.

“They had concluded that they had won after they used simple mathematics and failed.

“There are no guarantees in life,” he said.

Malema said: “The conference was not a conference of provinces and branches but of delegates. Leaders must learn to respect the views of the ordinary people.”

He added that the YL was like a factory that produces leaders for the future.

“It is time to learn the history of the ANC in schools just as we were subjected to learn the apartheid history at schools.”

The provincial secretary of the ANC, Neville Mompati, said the province was blessed to have Malema been elected as president of the youth league.

Mompati said the youth league was the bone marrow and life of the ANC.

“Without a millitant and radical league we are deadwood. We understand you as youth and must continue to be militant and radical,” he said.

Mompati said: “The choice you made in Limpopo and Mangaung was an investment. You made the right choice.”

He added: “We also know that it was not an easy desicion (election), but you managed to make the right choice and we have confidence in you.”

He urged the new leadership of the Youth League to unite the entire young membership.

“We do not want Morgan Tsvangarai as leader of Zimbabwe as we support the Zanu-PF,” said Malema.

Malema said the problem was that the old man (Robert Mugabe) did not want to give reins to a young person to lead.

He said the problem was that Mugabe did not want to learn from the great leaders of the world like Mandela and the others.

There were complicated issues in Zimbabwe, he said.

“Mugabe was a ‘factory fault’ of the YL just like the IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi.”

He said both leaders who were ageing fast needed to learn from the ANC.

He said whatever outcome was reached in Zimbabwe’s election, they would accept it even though they had some reservations about the MDC.

“We would have liked to see the Zanu-PF to continue to rule,” added Malema.

Teken in op Volksblad