New ANC team to reconstruct youth league

The ANC has unveiled its 22-member team charged with rebuilding its collapsed youth league.

Speaking at Luthuli House, the ANC national head office in Johannesburg yesterday, the party's secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, and his deputy, Jessie Duarte, said the members of the committee had been chosen from ANC Youth League branches all over the country.

"As you will notice from the names that have been approved, we have avoided [recycling] those who have been in leadership positions in the youth league at national level," he said.

Those committee members include Shaka Sisulu, Victoria de Beer, Bongiwe Gigaba, Braam Hanekom, Thembinkosi Josopu, Mxolisi Kaunda, Bandile Masuku and Rebone Tau.

Shaka Sisulu is the grandchild of the late struggle stalwarts Walter and Albertina Sisulu.

He is famed for sometimes discussing significant moments of the ANC's history on Twitter.

Last month, President Jacob Zuma and other senior ANC officials ordered the national working committee of the party to dissolve the youth league's national executive committee .

The move was prompted by strained relations between the ANC and its youth wing after Julius Malema was sacked as the league's president. Malema is now facing money laundering and tax evasion charges.

After Malema was axed, his deputy Ronald Lamola, his former deputy, Andile Lungisa, and current ANC national executive committee member Pule Mabe emerged as candidates to succeed him.

The ANC Youth League then divided into two camps: those who still supported Malema and those against him.

League members failed to toe the ruling party's line for months and the party's national executive committee debated how to disband the youth wing at the Mangaung national elective conference last year.

Also involved in the revamping of the ANC Youth League will be three ANC national executive committee members: Mcebisi Skwatsha, David Mahlobo and Pinky Moloi.

The convener of the league reconstruction team will be Mzwandile Mosina. Magasela Mzobe will be the coordinator.

Said Mantashe: "We have been engaging extensively with our structures nationally to identify suitable comrades [for membership of the committee].