ANCYL Gauteng wants Motlanthe for top job

The ANC Youth League in Gauteng has nominated Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to take the ANC's top job in Mangaung next month.

"It was clear in our meeting yesterday [Tuesday] that there was overwhelming support for comrade Kgalema Motlanthe to assume the position of president in Mangaung," provincial chair Lebogang Maile told reporters in Johannesburg.

"We want change."

The ANCYL in Gauteng nominated Mathews Phosa as deputy president, Fikile Mbalula for secretary-general, deputy secretary-general Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, national chairwoman Thandi Modise and treasurer general Paul Mashatile.

Maile said it was concerning that Congress of SA Trade Unions president Sdumo Dlamini had called for Motlanthe not to challenge President Jacob Zuma for the post of ANC leader.

Dlamini was showing "factional interests" by trying to intimidate Motlanthe, Maile said.

"There are internal organisational democratic processes in the ANC and we will not allow our alliance partners to dictate who we should elect."

The African National Congress is holding its national elective conference in Mangaung next month.

Zuma is expected to stand for a second term as leader. However some structures within the party had called for a change of leadership.

The ANCYL in the province bemoaned reports that Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) members in Ekurhuleni were threatening ANC branches to support Zuma.

"We call on the ANC to investigate a possible existence of a vigilant[e] group, calling itself MKMVA... which goes from one branch to another terrorising ANC members who are supporting comrade Kgalema."