OLEBOGENG MOLATLHWA

A group of disgruntled ANC Youth League members has expressed dissatisfaction about the no-confidence vote passed against league treasurer-general Pule Mabe at the weekend.

Seventeen members of the league’s national executive committee have asked the ruling party to intervene.

They will submit their letters to the ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe today, asking him to look into the circumstances that led to a vote of no-confidence being passed against Mabe. As a result, Mabe was removed from his post as treasurer-general and national executive committee member.

At the media briefing, at which the outcomes of the weekend’s committee meeting were outlined, the league revealed that Mabe was removed from his position because members had lost confidence in him.

The latest developments could give rise to speculation that the youth league is now even more divided.

Some league insiders are speculating that Mabe’s expulsion was an attempt to sideline him in the race to replace Malema as the league’s president.

It is also understood that the 17 members had resolved to resign from the national executive committee but their resignations were rejected.

The youth league has for the first time openly accused the ruling party of using internal disciplinary processes to fight political battles against its leaders.

Though this view has until now been the preserve of supporters of expelled president Julius Malema and suspended secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, the league’s national executive committee members yesterday openly criticised the ANC for resorting to using internal party processes to silence its leaders.

Delivering the committee’s statement following a heated meeting, the youth league’s deputy secretary-general, Kenetswe Mosenogi said, “We have no doubt that our cause is fair and we call on all structures of the ANC to work side by side with the youth league to challenge what is a gravely unfortunate action of using discipline to deal with differences of opinion on a political matter and a blatant attempt to suppress and silence the views of young people.”

The statement expressed support for Malema, Magaqa and the league’s suspended spokesman, Floyd Shivambu.

The statement continued: “The national executive committee unequivocally resolved to disagree with the ruling of the national disciplinary committee of appeal. The observations made by the committee [of appeal] undermine the autonomy of the youth league.”

The league also called for the ANC’s national executive committee to intervene and ensure the “immediate reinstatement of our leaders”.

The statement questioned the reasons for Magaqa’s suspension because he had apologised to Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba, as ordered by the national disciplinary committee last year.

ANC spokesman Keith Khoza yesterday dismissed the youth league’s accusation and defiance, and its support for Malema and Magaqa, stating that the matter had been settled.

League deputy president Ronald Lamola yesterday dismissed suggestions that the league was defining itself outside the ANC.