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Johannesburg – The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has disbanded branches in the Eastern Cape and greater Johannesburg, with indications on the ground that more will follow. More than 130 branches have been affected.
Less than a week ago the league’s deputy president, Desmond Moela, confirmed that a decision had been taken by the national executive committee to dissolve branches in those two regions.
He told journalists at a media briefing that leaders still had to explain their decision to the respective regions. There were certain processes that also still needed to be followed.
"It was done for political reasons and as part of rebuilding and instilling discipline in the political party," Moela said at the time.
League president Collen Maine has since said task teams were in the process of being set up to help restore order.
Branches from Johannesburg came under fire for booing Maine at an event in Pretoria at the beginning of 2016, while the branches in the Eastern Cape called for President Jacob Zuma to resign following the party's dismal showing during the municipal polls.
Some members of the Occupy Luthuli House group, a campaign which called for the immediate resignation of Zuma and his national executive, such as Sasa Manganyi, belong to branches in the inner city.
A source high up in the league told News24 that Maine was attempting to flex his muscles to show who is really in charge of the young lions.
There have been suggestions over the past year that he is at odds with the league’s treasurer general Reggie Nkabinde with both fighting to win over the hearts of branches in the league.
Tshwane and Ekurhuleni possibly next
ANC supporters who spoke to News24 on condition of anonymity said they were being refused league membership in Ekurhuleni branches because of whom they were perceived support, something regional chairperson Lesiba Rampye confirmed.
He told News24 that some had attempted to direct their grievances to leaders in the region but were told to go back to the branches.
"Some comrades came to the regional office to raise their issues. We said it's not correct. The centre of administration starts with branches."
Rampye said the group of concerned "comrades" claimed to have been harassed and victimised at their branches.
"They were not finding expression due to gate-keeping. This is a national phenomenon and as Ekurhuleni we are not immune to gate-keeping and factionalism."
The regional leader said he had given his commitment to the disgruntled supporters that he would oversee the process and to allow for their bulk membership registrations to be processed.
The source also indicated that the issue around membership forms being accepted or declined had to do with factions, claiming those who were being rejected had wanted to renew their membership in order to work towards changing the face of leadership in the region.
But a call to the Tshwane ANCYL regional chairperson, Lesego Makhubela, gave no indication that there might be conflict in his area.
"Tshwane and Ekurhuleni have relative peace," Makhubela said.
