The ANC Youth League is well on its way to electing its first female president, as matters stand.
The league, known for its vibrant and militant posture, has for the first time three women as front runners for the top post. The race is between Tlangi Mogale, Nonceba Mhlauli and Sizophila Mkhize.
Mogale, a councillor in Tshwane, seems to enjoy a lot of support in several provinces such as Limpopo, Free State, Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga.
The latter two have already pronounced in her favour.
Born in Tzaneen, Limpopo, Mogale has risen through structures such as the ANC-aligned Young Communist League in 2004 and Sasco.
She was elected on to the Tshwane metro council last year as a proportional representation councillor. Mogale also serves in the ANC Tshwane regional executive committee.
Mogale is said to be enjoying support from ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile and other influential figures such as Gauteng Cogta MEC Lebogang Maile and ANC Ekurhuleni chair Mzwandile Masina.
ANC NEC members Pule Mabe and Ronald Lamola are also said to be backing Mogale.
Mhlauli is convener of the youth league’s task team and has been tasked, along with Mogale, Mkhize and others, to lead the league to its next elective conference.
Under her stewardship, the youth league has convened several regional and provincial conferences.
Mhlauli also holds a government position as the spokesperson for minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele and is also the former head of communications for the ANC parliamentary caucus.
She is said to be enjoying the support of President Cyril Ramaphosa and several of his allies, including Gungubele and Eastern Cape premier and ANC chair Oscar Mabuyane as well as finance minister Enoch Godongwana.
Provinces that are said to be behind Mhlauli include her home base of Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Mkhize was elected into the ANC KZN provincial executive committee at its conference this year.
She is apparently enjoying support of the majority of the KZN PEC with rumours suggesting the chair and secretary of the province — Sboniso Duma and Bheki Mtolo — are firmly behind her.
EThekwini regional chair Zandile Gumede is also said to be behind Mkhize. In terms of provinces, Mkhize’s core is in KZN while some of her support comes from some parts of the Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Western Cape.
The youth league task team has agreed that its national conference will take place from October 6-9. This will, however, depend on the league raising enough funds, a struggle that has led to several postponements.
“We feel there is a lot that is not done, there are not enough resources. Remember we were supposed to sit last year and again in June, but that did not happen,” a youth league task team insider said. “There is an issue of money because organisationally we are now ready because we have met the 70% needed threshold. We are just held by the fact that we can’t find the money we need.
“Another hindrance has been that the ANC is starting its processes towards the national conference. The ANC would want to assist where it can and the youth league has largely been funded by its mother body. I don’t see the congress sitting this year, we are going to try, but I really doubt it.”
