Business Day
*Only patronage keeps young lion at helm of league* *Sibongakonke Shoba, Business Day, Johannesburg, 15 November 2011*WHILE Julius Malema's suspension might have weakened his leadership, for now the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League firebrand remains in control of his handpicked national executive committee (NEC), most of whose members rely on him for their jobs.
Speculation is rife that some of league's more than 50 executive committee members are tempted to distance themselves from him but lack the courage do so publicly or in his presence. There is already talk that some are lobbying party structures to ditch Mr Malema. Those said to be eyeing the position include his deputy, Ronald Lamola, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa and treasurer Pule Mabe. But none of them has confirmed having such ambitions.
Mr Malema, who has expressed his intention to appeal against the ANC national disciplinary committee's decision to suspend his membership for five years, remains at the helm of the league until completion of the appeal process.
This means he holds sway at the National Youth Development Agency, the R370m -a-year government agency run by former and current leaders of the league. The agency is meant to help young entrepreneurs to start businesses. The youth league has been accused of hijacking it and exerting too much influence over its executives and board members, some of whom are in the provinces.
Although youth league leaders have denied this, it is public knowledge that Mr Malema, or whoever is in charge of the league at the time, has a strong say in who is appointed to the agency.
A significant number of NEC members draw their income from the agency.Eastern Cape league chairman Ayanda Matiti, Free State chairman Khotso Morapela, Northern Cape chairman Shadrack Tlhaole and Limpopo chairman Frans Moswane all head the agency's advisory boards in their provinces. Mthosibisi Zwane, an NEC member, heads the advisory board in KwaZulu-Natal and Thabo Kupa serves on the Gauteng board.
One of the league's spokespeople, NEC member Magdalene Moonsamy, is the agency's chief operations officer. The national chairman of the agency is Andile Lungisa --- a former rival of Mr Malema who was accommodated in the NEC after he switched camps before the league's elective conference in June. Spokesman Floyd Shivambu's project, Loocha magazine, which targets the youth, is largely funded by the agency. Its first issue, distributed at the youth league conference, had Mr Malema on the cover.
These positions do not only provide youth league leaders with access to resources, but also give them power to distribute patronage for political survival.
"Most of them have no tertiary qualifications. If they shift, they know he'll remove them. That is why they fear him so much," said a league leader opposed to Mr Malema. "If they leave the (agency), they will have no income."
Others feel they owe Mr Malema for picking them to join the executive committee. The NEC was formed through a tightly managed process, culminating in Mr Malema and all NEC members being elected unopposed. "Julius personally handpicked people he wanted to be in his NEC," said the insider.
With the backing of these members, Mr Malema could easily launch a fight-back strategy. However, should his suspension be upheld, Mr Malema could find himself in the cold as he would have no hold on the NEC members.
That will make it impossible for him to lobby for support as he will not be allowed to speak at youth league platforms.
His losing the appeal would also free other youth leaders who loathe him and cannot express their opinion for fear that he will use his influence to get them fired from their government-related jobs.
That would add to the short list of league leaders said to be brave enough to take on Mr Malema. This list so far includes Gauteng chairman Lebogang Maile, NEC member Mduduzi Manana from Mpumalanga, NEC member Maropene Ntuli from the Northern Cape and the league's secretary for international affairs, Abner Mosaase.
Mr Malema is expected to file his appeal early next week. The longer the process takes, the longer he will enjoy the backing of his executive.
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