ANCYL branch defends Stofile

2010-06-30 20:10

Durban - The ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday distanced itself from a call by one of its regions for the firing of Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile.

"The ANCYL in KwaZulu-Natal would like to distance itself from the unfortunate utterance...," provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said in a statement.

The ANCYL's eThekwini branch earlier demanded that President Jacob Zuma fire Stofile because he had performed "shockingly" during the World Cup.

"We have noticed that Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana has always been in the spotlight since the start of the tournament and the sports minister was nowhere to be seen," said regional chairperson Lindela Ngwazi.

"We have now lost all confidence in him and we therefore call on the president to immediately replace him with a more energetic person who will represent the aspirations of millions of young people of South Africa."

Mtolo said the statements were not unifying.

He said Stofile and the government had made sure that South Africa hosted a successful World Cup.

Mtolo doubted that the region's comments had been made by the regional executive committee (REC), but rather by certain individuals "hell-bent on distorting the achievement of the ANC and parading their personal narrow interest", said Mtolo.

He said the provincial league believed in Stofile and felt he had done a good job.

- SAPA