Business Day
*More strife in ANC Youth League ranks* *Sibongakonke Shoba, Business Day, Johannesburg, 28 November 2011*AFRICAN National Congress (ANC) Youth League president Julius Malema's opponents in Mpumalanga have written to the ANC's secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, to complain about an alleged purge of those opposed to the firebrand.
This is the second such complaint to reach Mr Mantashe's office. The first was from the disbanded executive of the youth league in KwaZulu- Natal, who requested his intervention after its battle with Mr Malema. This comes as a rebellion against Mr Malema's leadership gains momentum nationally as he fights for his political survival.
The league's former secretary in Mpumalanga, John Mkhatshwa, said he and three other members of the provincial executive committee (PEC) were removed from their posts after the PEC welcomed Mr Malema's suspension from the ANC. He said that after a PEC meeting last Sunday, league secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa convened a special meeting with the provincial leaders last Thursday where the alleged purges took place. Mr Mkhatshwa said it was in that meeting where Mr Malema's close ally and deputy Ronald Lamola chastised them for not being "visible" at gatherings to support Mr Malema.
"He said I was not present at the march for economic freedom and other national events," he said.
He claimed Mr Lamola ordered that three youth leaders who did not support Mr Malema's re-election last June to leave the room. "He said the three were no longer part of the PEC and should never be allowed to attend PEC meetings."
Mr Mkhatshwa said Mr Lamola asked him for a progress report on the league's plan to remove ANC provincial chairman David Mabuza. "There was never such a resolution," Mr Mkhatshwa said. He claimed Mr Lamola told him he was no longer secretary because he was dragg ing his feet in applying the plan to remove Mr Mabuza. Mr Mkhatshwa said eight more members of his executive resigned in protest against Mr Lamola's actions.
Mr Lamola was not available for comment yesterday.League spokeswoman Magdalene Moonsamy disputed Mr Mkhatshwa's claims, saying his version of events was misleading.
According to Ms Moonsamy, a vote of no confidence in Mr Mkhatshwa was passed by the PEC because the province had failed to function under his leadership. "In Mpumalanga, the ANC Youth League has not functioned optimally. A person must not go around spreading mistruths," she said.
Another league leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the rebellion against Mr Malema's leadership was growing across the country after he allegedly tempered with the league constitution.
The disbanded KwaZulu-Natal PEC was the first to deny that the league's constitution was amended to exempt the league from automatically applying a disciplinary ruling of the ANC. Mr Mkhatshwa has also disputed the changes.
Mr Malema has insisted the amendment did take place, but other leaders have denied this. "We are going to raise this in the next NEC. Such an amendment never took place," said one leader who asked not to be named.
Mr Malema and five colleagues filed their appeals on Thursday.The league is campaigning for leadership change in the ANC. Mr Malema's backers claim the suspensions are politically motivated. They want President Jacob Zuma to make way for his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe and Mr Mantashe to be replaced by Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula.
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