Limpopo ANCYL behind Masoga

The ANC Youth League in Limpopo is defying its national disciplinary committee by refusing to recognise the expulsion of provincial chairman Lehlogonolo Masoga.

It is planning to convene another provincial elective conference next month.

After a four-hour meeting in Polokwane on Tuesday, the league's provincial executive committee invalidated Masoga's expulsion.

Describing the national disciplinary committee as a "kangaroo court", the provincial executive's spokesman, Eric Hlungwani, said: "In view of the total sum of irregularities surrounding the case, the provincial executive committee took a decision not to recognise the national disciplinary committee outcome against Comrade Masoga."

Masoga was axed on Monday after being found guilty of creating divisions in the league after leading a walk-out from its Makhado conference in April.

The Limpopo executive committee said the struggle for power and for the soul of the youth league had turned individuals into political creatures with "total disregard" for the league's constitution.

League spokesman Floyd Shivambu, before slamming down the phone, said: "I don't want to say anything. You can write any sh** you want."

The latest move has added punch to Masoga's campaign of defiance.

His supporters are mobilising to march to the ANC office in Limpopo next week to present their grievances.

The provincial executive said its rejection of the disciplinary committee's verdict was based on irregularities that included:

• Masoga's hearing being premature, before the ANC concluded its political process;
• Refusal of the committee to allow the recusal of certain members;
• Masoga being denied the opportunity to present his version;
• Masoga's representative being dismissed from the hearing without valid reason.

"In this state of affairs, comradeship [has been] reduced to nothing and is substituted with gangsterism and Mafia-style petty politicking," Hlungwani said.

He said that in May the ANC national executive committee ruled that it could not recognise the suspension of Julius Malema supporter Clifford Motsepe from a branch in Polokwane on charges of misconduct.

Hlungwani said he was confident that the ANC would act decisively to put and end to the "political drama" within the youth league.

Masoga yesterday refused to comment.