Durban - The ANC youth league has endorsed Dr Zweli Mkhize to be elected as party president at the ANC’s 55th elective conference in December.
In a statement issued by the Youth League National Youth Task Team (NYTT) on Monday, the team has identified leaders who will champion the cause of young people and ensure the rebuilding and transformation of the economy.
The team stated that Mkhize should be elected to the highest office in Luthuli House, the national headquarters of the ANC. The NYTT wants current Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile to deputise Mkhize and chose current Limpopo provincial chairperson Stan Mathabatha to take national chairperson position. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula is earmarked for secretary-general position, and Nomvula Mokonyane must deputise for him, according to the NYTT. The current national party spokesperson Pule Mabe is touted for treasurer-general position.
The NYTT will be sending 40 delegates to the conference. The NYTT said it wants an ANC President who will work with the collective, the alliance partners and all youth structures to resuscitate the old ANC culture that made no one feel alienated from the ANC for whatever reason.
“We need young lions that must be an integral part of all processes that will ensure that this organisation emerges from this gathering with a clear implementation plan of its progressive policies and resolutions that will be adopted,” the NYTT statement read.
“In particular, the rebuilding and transformation of our economy, with young people being central, is our main focus moving forward. In this regard, as NYTT, we deliberated on the type of leaders we believe should be elected during the national conference to be held in December,” the NYTT added.
The NYTT called for leadership that would end load shedding, which has crippled the economy, ensure access to land and transform the financial sector for the benefit of young people and indigenous people. On the long list for national executive committee members, the league included a couple of KwaZulu-Natal members, which included former Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu, former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The NYTT endorsement of Mkhize came as a shock to many because the structure’s convener, Nonceba Mhlauli, is a known president Cyril Ramaphosa backer. Her branch in Cape Town had nominated president Cyril Ramaphosa.
During January 8 party celebrations in Limpopo, Mhlauli was seen with Ramaphosa on stage, where youth league members raised two fingers in the air as a sign of a second term endorsement for Ramaphosa, but Mhlauli had denied that the league had endorsed the president, saying it was youth league members, not the structure.
Daily News