By Libuseng Nyaka and Molefi Sompane
President Jacob Zuma and his Deputy Kgalema Motlanthe
QWA QWA – ANC president Jacob Zuma’s bid for a second term at the helm of the ruling party and state got a big boost this week when Thabo Mofutsanayana youths and the Fezile Dabi branch nominated him for the coveted job.
As the crucial elective conference draws closer, the ANCYL in Thabo Mofutsanyana said this week that it also wants Gwede Mantashe to retain his current seat as Secretary Generalat the forth coming ruling party ‘s conference to be held in Mangaung in December .
Youth leaders said this during their first council meeting after the leadershipelection since April 4. All branches that fall under Thabo Mofutsanyana except Mantsopawere represented at the meeting that washeld at the University of Free State Qwa Qwa Campus on Sunday, October 7.
Also, Fezile Dabi Regional secretary Moshe Tladi told Public Eye on Wednesday, October 10 that the region had decided to support Zuma pending branch nominations. “We are supporting the current leadership of Zuma, although we are waiting for all our branches to nominate their choice of candidates,” he said.
Regional ANCYL chairperson of ThaboMofutsanyana, Motloung Mohoabali confirmed that they werebacking Zuma for a second term, setting the region on a collision course with the national ANYCL which is backing Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe for the post.
“It is our wish to see the two retain their posts after Mangaung. However, we will support any decision made by the branches in thechoice of the leadership”.
Palesa Notsi of the ANCYL Working Committee decried indiscipline among ANCYL members. “The issue of behaviour must be addressed among members. We do have members of ANC who call themselves ‘regime change’, regime change is fuelling division among members. It is not fair forthem to serve their individual interests in the name of ANC. We saw our members being taken to court just because people were not happywith the nomination. That we cannot tolerate.”
Regional deputy secretary and a member of ANCYL from Dihlabeng, Mohloki Moki said it was good that (former ANCYL leader Julius) Malema had been expelled from the party. “He cannot be trusted. This same man used to say he would ‘kill for Zuma’ but today he is singing adifferent tune. In what capacity was Malema addressing the soldiersexcept to try to over throw the government. Defence forces are the last lineof the country’s security and no one is allowed to interfere with them byso doing he is threatening the security of this country,” he said.
Moki also defended the President against Malema‘s claims that he had stolen the youth league’s idea of spurring economic freedom. “We are a product of the ANC infact it was an ANC decision that the ANCYL be established and it is our role tocome up with new ideas for the same organisation,” said Moki.
The decision contrasts national deputy president of ANYCL Ronald Lomala who said the league wants Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe as president.
Lamola said Kgalema has the credentials to lead this country.“He is very disciplined and credible, but also firm. He asked Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to investigate him if therewere any allegations of corruption. He also reprimanded us when we wanted him to lead the country,” said Lamola.
The Youth League also wants Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula to ascend to the position of ANC secretary general.
Other candidates that the league wants branches to consider forleadership positions include current ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa, ANC Gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, current deputy secretary general Thandi Modise and ANC national executive member Thenjiwe Mtints.
In Fezile Dabi, home of current chairperson of the ANC in Free State, Ace Magashule- a known Zuma ally –the party faithful were first out of the blocks in rallying behind Zuma’s bid for a second presidential term.
Magashule and his PEC are also believed to support a second term for General Secretary Gwede Mantashe. But provincial secretary William Bulwane said on Wednesday, October 10that the region had given their it’s branches two weeks to nominatetheir preferred candidates.
“We have decided not to officially announce our choice but wait forbranches to do that first as they are accredited bodies to nominate. They will be dealing with the process from Monday for two weeks,” hesaid.
An ANC member who requested his name be withheld said the PEC and all the regions elected before the Parys provincial conference that catapulted Magashule’ into a fourth win as the provincial leader will retain Zuma and Mantashe’s leadership.
“Magashule would not sabotage or betray president Zuma. After all, he gave him a job as a premier after both Mandela and Mbeki side-lined him, and he also has ambitions to be in the National Working Committee so that he becomes a minister,” he said.
“That is why he was against the youth league. However, this year’selections are not about ANC. It’s about individuals who are returningfavours so that they benefit after.”
He added: “We know that all of those in favour of Magashule automatically are rooting for Zuma, but the concern here is that mostof the branches in the Free State do not want either him or Zuma. The party leadership here is going to lie to the people that branches support Zuma whereas people are lobbying for Kgalema Motlanthe to takeover.”
The women’s league leader in the region Thandi Soetsang was notavailable for immediate response on who they want to lead theprovince. Free State will have 324 delegates at the elective congress.
Political analyst Steven Friedman said on Wednesday, October 10 thatall of the people to be nominated by branches will not differ to those Magashule and his PEC will support.
“We know the politics of the province; we know that branches willnominate people who the PEC supports. However, this does notguarantee that those people will be elected in Mangaung. We have toremember in 2007 prior to the Polokwane conference, there was havoc at allthe nomination centres; we hope not to experience the same thing again,” Friedman said.