Fears of revenge as ANC youth task team starts its work

Leaders of the ANC Youth League, whose national executive committee has been disbanded, have complained to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe that some of those deployed in the national task team might be out to settle scores.

The complaint was lodged by provincial youth league chairmen and secretaries, who by virtue of their positions also form part of the national task team.

Mantashe convened a meet-and-greet session at the St George's Hotel in Pretoria at the weekend.

He is said to have reminded the task team that its mission was not to disband provinces but to verify branches.

A provincial leader who attended the meeting yesterday said it was pointless to complain about the selection criteria because no one could overturn a decision once it had been taken by the ANC.

He said he was concerned because some of the people on the task team had lost in the league's 2011 electionsand might want revenge.

"The [secretary-general] told us to cooperate and warned the [task team] members against being vengeful and that this witch-hunt must not happen," a provincial leader said.

Mantashe named the task team, led by Gauteng Film Commission CEO Mzwandile Masina, last week.

Masina was among those who spoke out against former league president Julius Malema and even campaigned against him ahead of the 2011 elective conference in which Malema was re-elected.

Another leader, who is said to be compromised because of his unsuccessful bid to lead the Eastern Cape region, is Mawethu Rune.

The task team consists of academics and former youth leaders. Some are serving in youth league, Young Communist League and Congress of SA Students structures.

It is also understood that the task team's members will undergo an induction in the next few days to bring them up to speed with the ANC's constitution.

Northern Cape chairman, Shadrack Tlhaole, said leaders agreed to heed Mantashe's call for unity to "fight the enemy", particularly as the party geared up to the 2014 general elections.

Masina said the task team would convene a press conference today to outline its programme of action .