 Insiders say a political rebellion is brewing WHILE Julius Malema is fighting for his political life, a rebellion is brewing in the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League, with Mr Malema’s critics looking to isolate him and challenge his authority. This would add to his political and legal woes, as Mr Malema already faces a disciplinary hearing that could sink his career, and a police investigation into allegations of receiving kickbacks for facilitating state contracts. KwaZulu-Natal, a province that was influential in Mr Malema’s re-election three months ago, appears to have turned against the league firebrand after his clashes with the leadership of the ANC. Cracks emerged when the province defied a decision by the league’s national executive ordering provinces to bus sympathisers into Johannesburg to show support for Mr Malema at the first session of his disciplinary hearing. Seven provinces complied and transported supporters to Luthuli House, but league members from KwaZulu-Natal were visibly absent from the rowdy crowd. Insiders claim Mr Malema was annoyed by the province’s perceived defiance. Several insiders have confirmed to Business Day that the possible disbanding of the KwaZulu-Natal executive committee was raised at the league’s extended national working committee last Sunday, but no decision was made. Sources say Mr Malema and his executive realised that dismantling KwaZulu-Natal would not be easy. It is the province with the most branches (700), and has solid programmes in place. A league leader in the Eastern Cape warned that disbanding KwaZulu-Natal would not work in Mr Malema’s favour. "They would have donated KwaZulu-Natal to another force," says the official. League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa yesterday denied that Sunday’s meeting discussed disbanding KwaZulu-Natal. "I know nothing about that," he said. But for many, the wrangle between Mr Malema and the KwaZulu-Natal structure comes as no surprise. The province supported Mr Malema’s re-election partly because it wanted to push Mr Magaqa into the national executive. Mr Magaqa was then deputy chairman in the province. It is believed that the league supported Mr Malema in order to have representation in the executive, as Mr Magaqa became secretary-general, the third- most powerful post in the league. And, Mr Malema’s stance on the future of President Jacob Zuma made him unpopular with the president’s supporters in the province. Mr Malema is linked to a campaign to replace Mr Zuma, but KwaZulu- Natal — Mr Zuma’s home province — will not be easily swayed. It may also help Mr Zuma that Mthandeni Dlungwane, the league chairman in the province, is his nephew. Now that battle lines have been drawn between Mr Zuma and Mr Malema, the league in the province appears to have turned its back on the young firebrand, and embarked on an early campaign to secure Mr Zuma’s re-election. A leader of the league in the province, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, told Business Day yesterday that KwaZulu-Natal was ready to fight Mr Malema should he move to disband them. "If he makes that mistake, there is going to be a serious rebellion. We will undermine him and form parallel structures," said the leader. But ANC youth in KwaZulu- Natal are not united in their politics. One of Mr Malema’s most vocal supporters in the province, provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo, insists that the province backs Mr Malema. "The PEC (provincial executive committee) of KwaZulu- Natal supports the national leadership led by president Malema," he says. Others in the province, however, claim Mr Mtolo is among the few leaders in the province who support Mr Malema. "They (Mr Mtolo and his allies) have been isolated," one says. Mr Malema’s detractors claim to have the support of most of the PEC and branches in the province. "We have addressed league and ANC structures and they all agree with us. People are fed up with these guys (Mr Malema’s executive)," says an insider. Mr Malema’s opponents also claim to have the support of league structures in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and the Free State. Mr Malema remains in control of his home province Limpopo, North West, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape. While the Gauteng executive is said to be divided, provincial secretary Ayanda Kasa-Ntsobi is a staunch supporter of Mr Malema. [email protected] -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . |
