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UNITED: President Jacob Zuma with re-elected Free State ANC chairman Ace Magashule. Photo: Sibusiso Msibi

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Zuma endorsed the conference, saying it was held within the constitutional framework of the ANC.

"I think it's as clear as anything, the manner in which delegates are conducting themselves, and there is evidence that the conference was that of the ANC as we know it," said Zuma yesterday amidst loud cheers from delegates who sang pro-Zuma songs and showed hand signals to the effect that he should get a second term.

He was speaking in Parys, Free State, on the last day of the conference. He brushed aside the divisions and tensions that manifested themselves in the province for the past few weeks, saying those had been dealt with by the national executive committee task team deployed in the province.

This was contrary to claims of irregularities in the auditing of several branches.

Ousted provincial executive committee members - secretary Sibongile Besani and treasurer Nxolisi Dukwana - were among those who raised the flag to national officials about the "flawed" processes leading up to the conference.

Dukwana also said the audits undertaken by the national audit team were flawed and inconsistent with the membership audit.

Zuma said those who had boycotted the conference were behaving in an un-ANC manner.

"The elections are just one of many. If you are a disciplined member, you come to conference no matter what views you have about the elections," he said.

The ANC Youth League also ditched the conference and held its own rally in Bethlehem.

The rally was addressed by the youth league's deputy president Ronald Lamola and Dukwana, much to the disappointment of the provincial leadership who viewed this as an act of ill-discipline.

This prompted Zuma to refer to the league as a lost generation, saying its conduct left much to be desired.

Comparing the current state of the league, Zuma said there was a vast difference between the current youth league and that of his days.

He said they used to raise issues "comradely" in his days, and never organised parallel meetings or insulted party leaders.

Zuma said like the youth of the 1950s, it was important to know the role of the ANCYL and not create a new role that never existed.

"They (1950s youth) never attempted to shape the ANC (from) outside there ... in slogans and in meetings that you cannot describe.

"I'm not certain whether the youth league of today is anything that inspires. I'm not certain ... things that some of our youth are doing do not inspire at all."

Zuma said the youth of today have a critical duty to defend the democratic gains of the struggle.

Indirectly referring to suspended youth league president Julius Malema, Zuma warned members that "it is cold out there".

On Saturday, Magashule praised Zuma's leadership and criticised Malema, now a staunch anti-Zuma campaigner, saying he must "leave the ANC if he thinks he knows better and thinks he owns the youth".

Zuma also attempted to garner support for his call for a "second transition" as stated in one of the documents up for discussion at tomorrow's policy conference to be held in Midrand, saying this was "the only way" to address social problems like poverty and unemployment.

"It's a matter of must ... people live in squalor. We must make a majority of poor people happy by changing their future."

Those who disagreed must find alternatives, he said.

Zuma's deputy Kgalema Motlanthe and the youth league are amongst those who have questioned the "second transition".

Comments

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Thu Jun 20 06:46:09 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 25, 2012

Leutler

Where is DUDU?, please pray for the downfall of the Zuma, SA is going down to its a*s s h*o*le, if this man still leading ANC
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Jun 25, 2012

Papage

Power is evil
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Jun 25, 2012

Ratoza

I am going to fast and pray, JZ I bet you will never sit on the Presidential chair again for as long as I live. I swear.

LOL
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Jun 25, 2012

WakeUpSouthAfrica

Curse the fools that voted for Zuma.
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Jun 25, 2012

JoyMaster24

Showara wa tsamaya wa rata go ba ga o rate, jy moet loop.
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Jun 25, 2012

MicaParis

I do not agree with Mr President. The Commander in Chief is brushing aside the conflict in that Free State because they are not anti his faction , why cannot he deal with it like the way he did in Limpopo and the Northwest? I think the President is biased as well to certain individual cadres! Well he will agree with Comrade Ace because he fall under his populace , but as the leader of the party I thought he will be concerned about the divisions which exist within the ANC. Well we chose Comrade Zuma to lead us in Polokwane for two terms let us leave him to finish his mess so that we can avoid bloodshed in our country! For the sake of peace and stability let us give him a very long rope to hang himself whilst he suffocate we will deal with him accordingly in the coming conference after the one which he has already taken over by coup which is the one which is going to be held in Mangaung. Well let us say we will see you exactly three years after Mangaung conference, LET ME PUT IT ON RECORD MR PRESIDENT YOU WILL NOT FINISH YOUR SECOND TERM BUT YOU WILL START IT!!. Nobody will listen to you after Mangaung!!
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Jun 25, 2012

Secretary

Ace let me tel you before you are tjatjarag,Malema owns the youth.
Zuma our only alternative is to replace you and Ace. You are too old guys and now it seems as if you also too old to think.
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Jun 25, 2012

Secretary

ZUMA YOUR DAYS ARE METICULOUSLY NUMBERED
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Jun 25, 2012

Anti-rhetoric

It is hard but some of you will have stroke in December, JZ is coming back. Hard work yield results but rhetoric mount to nothing. This is maths at its best KNZ=90%, FS=65%, GP=45%, EC= 46%, NC=48%, LP=48%, NW=50%, WL=60%, VL=50% AND YL= 40%. Please do your maths and they follwing province did not support JZ in 2007 during nominations: EC,LP,NW,WC. Be analytic in your objective assessment, he is coming back. He has majority of NEC members.
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Jun 25, 2012

Secretary

@Anti-rhetoric
We rely on election outcomes, not on skhothane statistics.
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