The ANC Youth League’s two largest provinces – the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal – are in talks over a possible alliance ahead of the league’s long-awaited elective conference in June.
TThe two largest provinces of the ANC Youth League – Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal – in talks about the alliance can be ahead of the much-awaited elective conference of the league in June.
The source said Mail & Guardians that the leaders of the Eastern Cape have contacted their counterparts in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Northern Cape in the hope that the four provinces will form a united bloc with representation among the six top officials of the young lion.
While the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been split by factions that emerged from the mother body, the Eastern Cape has declared that it is seeking the position of secretary-general, with Mntuwoxolo Ngudle and Bongani Mani named by the two factions in the province. as the preferred candidate.
The league’s national youth task team (NYTT) spokesperson and KwaZulu-Natal heavyweight Sizophila Mkhize is believed to be seeking the presidential position.
Mkhize said M&G that the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were clear should go to the united conference.
“The details of how they will unite, the details of who will stand for what, is what has not been done. So I’m just happy from where I am with the fact that most … they have agreed on the principle that they should work together going to the national conference,” she said.
Mkhize said he had been lobbied by league members and would run for president. He added that he does not have a slate because the youth league members are still negotiating.
“I don’t imagine I did the same thing as others before and failed. I think maybe I should know, and even my friends know, the importance of working together as young people. Our problems are the same regardless of the faction you want to associate yourself with. We they are dealing with the same problem. Unemployment problem, social problem, exclusion problem in higher education institutions,” he said.
“Our problem is the same, regardless of who you like as the elder of the ANC. Now, if we can, as young people, be able to unite and say, this is the person who we think can best take us to the promised land, at least fight the status quo , at best, change the lives of young people. If not, obviously, getting there and only being chosen for fun will only waste the time of young people.
Mkhize had to contend with a deeply divided KwaZulu-Natal that could not hold a provincial conference. City press It was recently reported that the contending factions were planning two parallel conferences. The league’s provincial coordinator, Mafika Mndebele, was accused of organizing the conference unilaterally and smuggling fake delegates. The province has failed to hold a conference on two occasions.
Mkhize said there was hope that the KwaZulu-Natal conference would be held in April. Tanjung Timur was also unable to hold a conference due to factionalism.
“At least if there’s one thing I think all parties agree on [it] that is, the congress of the two provinces must sit. Even we at NYTT, we agree that the national congress should sit,” he said.
Four regions in the Eastern Cape have yet to hold a conference.
The league disbanded in 2018 when it failed to elect a new leader to take over from Collen Maine. The task force was earlier ordered to bring the young lions to the elective conference but the national Covid-19 lockdown caused another delay.
The task team was then disbanded and a new one with a younger cohort was installed.