The ANCYL national task team has wiped out the old guard in its final list of endorsed leaders for the mother body’s national executive committee (NEC) ahead of the elective conference in December.
After a bruising all-night Sunday meeting that spilt into the early hours of Monday, the ANCYL has snubbed most of the old guard in its 86-member list for NEC.
The task team said it was high time that young people take over the leadership baton and champion issues affecting young people, with South Africa topping the charts for the world’s highest youth unemployment at more than 50%.
TimesLIVE Premium earlier reported that the structure had endorsed Zweli Mkhize for president and Paul Mashatile for deputy, with former ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula favoured for secretary-general.
Most of the old guard, including incumbent president Cyril Ramaphosa, national chair Gwede Mantashe and deputy president David Mabuza have all not made the cut for the 80 NEC additional members.
Among others belonging to the so called ANC old guard and are part of the reigning NEC who did not get nomination include Derek Hanekom, Lindiwe Sisulu, Pravin Gordhan, Naledi Pandor, Enoch Godongwana and Mondli Gungubele.
Instead, the ANCYL task team opted to nominate most of their own who are still counted as youth, as well as many within the middle age group, with very few elders above the age of 60.
If they have their way, the NEC that should be elected at the 16 to 20 Nasrec conference should include the likes of ANCYL task team convener Noceba Mhlauli, coordinator Joy Maimela and Tlangi Mogale.
Former president Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko, Joburg’s Loyiso Masuku, former David Mabuza lobbyist Sivile Mabandla, Mduduzi Manana and Mzwandile Masina should also be NEC members according to the task team.
Former youth league presidents Lulu Johnson and Malusi Gigaba were also nominated for NEC, while glaringly missing from the list is ex-ANCYL secretary-general Sihle Zikalala who this year also lost the contest for ANC KZN provincial chairperson.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made the cut for the old guard, so did Bathabile Dlamini.
ANCYL task team spokesperson Sizophila Mkhize said: “We agreed on the need to ensure that we have a youthful ANC NEC that will be seized with the task of putting this country on a new trajectory of socioeconomic development.
“Our NEC nominees are leaders that we believe will champion the cause of young people and make them catalysts for the development of all sectors of our economy. We want young people to be creators of wealth for generations to come.”
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