The Times *Maile trumps Malema pack* /New Gauteng league chief poses a headache for the old guard/ * Dominic Mahlangu, The Times, Johannesburg, 16 August 2010*Julius Malema's grip on power in the ANC Youth League suffered a major setback yesterday when loyalist Thabo Kupa lost the Gauteng leadership race.
Kupa, who had campaigned on the Malema ticket to become Gauteng's youth league chairman lost out to Lebogang Maile.
So far only two provinces - Mpumalanga and the Free State - have endorsed Malema's bid to retain his presidency for a second term.
The victorious Maile yesterday said his battle plan was never about Malema and the ANC national leadership race.
He said the youth in Gauteng would - "at the right time" - pronounce on who they supported to lead the league at national level.
He said that while he was delighted to have won, the newly elected leadership had a responsibility to serve all of its members.
"We must rise above petty issues that might have divided us before the elections and strive to bring about unity in our structure," Maile said soon after his victory was confirmed.
Maile's triumph is expected to create a headache for Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane, whose influence depends on the Gauteng youth league leadership.
During her battle to dislodge Paul Mashatile as Gauteng ANC chairman in May, Mokonyane relied on Kupa for support.
Mokonyane, however, lost out to Mashatile.With Maile now in charge of the league in the province, Mokonyane has no support from the ANC or the league.
Maile told journalists that the congress was inspired by the determination of members who wanted to see a successful conference "free of disruptions and violent conduct".
"The majority of our members avoided pernicious influence and were determined to have an outcome that will take forward many social and economic challenges of the youth.
"These leaders will work meticulously and collectively to safeguard the interests of the youth in Gauteng," Maile said.
A dejected delegate from the Tshwane region, who supported Kupa, said yesterday the "take over" of the conference by the ANC snatched the victory from them.
He said it was the first time in his time as a member of the youth league that the ANC had taken charge of the conference.
"It was clear that we were going to lose. The process favoured Maile. I accept the result, but the youth league leadership must avoid selling our autonomy to the ANC," the delegate added.
Last week, the ANC in Gauteng took over some functions of the league's conference, following concerns that the elections might not be free and fair.
Dumisa Ntuli, the ANC spokesman in the province, said yesterday that there was nothing underhand about their involvement.
*From: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article604011.ece/Maile-trumps-Malema-pack*
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