ANC distances itself from ANCYL
2008-09-17 13:18
Johannesburg - The ANC's National Executive Committee will meet on the weekend to discuss the implications of Judge Chris Nicholson's ruling and make its findings known, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday.
Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Nicholson on Friday last week declared the corruption and fraud prosecution against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma invalid.
"The NEC will make any pronouncements after the meeting based on the consensus reached within the NEC," Mantashe said in a statement.
Responding to the ANC Youth League's announcement on Tuesday that most ANC NEC members agreed that President Thabo Mbeki should be removed from office, Mantashe said the NEC did not "tail" the youth league.
"We wish to make it clear that the ANC National Executive Committee is the highest decision-making body in the organisation between conferences.
"While the Youth League has a right to articulate its own position, the ANC NEC does not tail the ANC Youth League," Mantashe said.
ANCYL president Julius Malema said Mbeki would not be president ahead of next year's elections.
"This one we won't lose. We'll have Mbeki removed. We don't fight to lose... even now you must sense something. He is going. It doesn't matter who says what. Mbeki will not be president of this country when we go to elections," Malema said.
- SAPA