Race for ANC Youth League presidency goes underground

The race for the ANC Youth League presidency is under way, albeit under a veil of secrecy.

Fears abound that Luthuli House will impose candidates on the league at its national congress in September.

But there is an informal agreement within the ranks that the deputy executive chairman of the National Youth Development Agency, Kenny Morolong - considered close to North West ANC chairman and Jacob Zuma ally Supra Mahumapelo - and former SA Student's Congress president David Maimela should be considered.

Regions are reluctant to propose their preferred candidates for fear of being "dealt with".

One of the league's most influential regions, Greater Johannesburg, is one of those looking to emerge later in the race for the presidency.

Two of its leaders said yesterday the region was aware of the influence of Luthuli House ahead of the congress but the time had come to "reclaim the league".

"One needs to be careful because you're dealing with people who can sideline you because they run the office. Comrades are not happy with the NTT [national task team], to be honest, and there's consensus that we need to reclaim the league," said one leader.

"But if you show your hand too early, you will be dealt with."

Said another leader: "The president [Zuma] and his crew support those mentioned individuals [task team coordinator Magasela Mzobe, Pule Mabe and another task team member, Mawethu Rune] but we will make sure that we strengthen our mandate in branches, regions and provinces."