We're in trouble, says Zuma

President Jacob Zuma has admitted that the ruling party is in trouble.

Zuma, who was addressing the ANC Youth League consultative conference in Soweto yesterday, said the heat the party was feeling affected the entire country.

"The ANC Youth League has been shaken and the mother body, the organisation is in trouble.

"And if anything goes wrong with the ANC everything will go wrong in the country," he said.

As Zuma was about to continue speaking off the cuff, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe passed him a note.

Zuma consulted with Mantashe and when he returned to the podium changed his tone and spoke about the youth league leadership that had to be disbanded.

Gauteng delegates are trying to get other provinces to push for an election of league office-bearers to be held.

Gauteng delegates booed the loudest when Mantashe was introduced.

It is widely believed by league members that Mantashe was behind the move to postpone the election until March.

Gauteng, which has campaigned for former youth league treasurer Pule Mabe to be the league's next president, felt that the postponement of the election was aimed at excluding Mabe from the race.

Mabe, who turns 35 in March, will not be eligible to stand later as the league's constitution stipulates that membership is open only to people under 35.

The league's former president and current Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula reprimanded delegates for singing, booing and defying orders to sit down.

Mbalula told delegates that the league was an organisation of disciplined people.

"The ANC is under attack and must be defended."

The consultative conference continues today.