Maile urged to try for presidency

Only 24 hours after he was elected chairman of the ANC Youth League in Gauteng, supporters of Lebogang Maile are talking of their next challenge.

They want Maile to be in the forefront in their attempt to replace league president Julius Malema at the organisation's next elective conference.

Maile, the former leader of the Congress of South African Students, said yesterday that it was premature for league members to talk about Malema's replacement.

He said it was not only dangerous but would open the organisation to unnecessary tensions.

"The discussion about leadership in the youth league has not started and those who are calling for changes are acting against the principles that guide us. When the time is right we will make an announcement. For now Julius is our president," Maile said.

Born in Alexandra in 1980, Maile has been in the forefront of politics in the township in which he grew up.

Those close to him told The Times that he is not afraid to take on the establishment. They say he was a thorn in the side of former education minister Kader Asmal.

An incident that placed him in the political spotlight was his fight with former police minister Steve Tshwete in Alexandra.

Tshwete came to the township after students had taken to the streets.

Thinking that he would be able to "discipline" the students and order them back to their classes, Tshwete is said to have struggled to control Maile, who was leading the student protests.

Tshwete left the township with his tail between his legs.

Among those who had accompanied Tshwete was current Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, who was safety and security MEC at the time.

Yesterday, Maile said his political activism started at home.

"I was introduced to politics at an early age. My mother was a unionist and my two brothers were involved in the ANC underground.

"When I joined the ANC Youth League, at the age of 13, I was able to refer to the discussions at home and it made it easy for me to be in leadership roles."

With his close friendship to Paul Mashatile, the Gauteng ANC chairman, Maile has been accused of being a member of a close Alexandra faction within the ANC.

He has denied the allegations.

One of his close allies yesterday said the election of Maile to lead the youth league would raise the bar on politics in the province.

"We hope that his election will bring needed changes in how the youth league works in the province."