Real fear of ANCYL split
2010-06-06 17:57
Johannesburg - Hundreds of Eastern Cape ANC Youth League delegates on Saturday defied the league's national working committee, arriving in Port Elizabeth instead of East London for a provincial conference, the Sunday Times reported.
The committee, the league's highest decision-making body, had agreed on Friday that the Orient Theatre in East London would be the best venue.
The league's provincial executive had, however, decided on Coega Village in Port Elizabeth.
"Never in the history of the ANC or the Youth League have you heard the national office interfering with issues like venues for provincial conferences," outgoing provincial secretary Mlibo Qoboshiane was quoted as saying.
"We agreed in their presence (league general secretary Vuyiswa Tulelo and treasurer general Pule Mabe) that Coega is the best venue for this conference. They told us we will have to make payments and secure it and we did just that."
The province is divided between supporters of ANCYL leader Julius Malema and his deputy, Andile Lungisa, who is expected to challenge for the youth league presidency next year.
Malema's supporters want outgoing secretary Ayanda Matiti as provincial chair, while Lungisa's supporters want Mawanda Ndakisa.
The conference was postponed two weeks ago after skirmishes between supporters of Matiti and Ndakisa.
- SAPA
