REINSTATED ANC Youth League treasurer-general Pule Mabe has effectively launched a bold and fierce campaign to replace the embattled Julius Malema as league president.
Mabe, once Malemas co-lieutenant, seems to have secured the support of the ANC Youth League in Gauteng, which will act as his base.
Delegates at the youth league's provincial general council - held yesterday at the University of Johannesburg campus in Soweto - gave Mabe the nod in his attempt to take over the vacant ANCYL presidency.
Provincial youth league deputy chairman Simon Molefe told Sowetan yesterday that Mabe could count on the province's backing.
"When the process (to nominate) starts with our branches we will support him as Gauteng," said Molefe.
"We think that it must start within the structures of the movement and if branches ask him to stand and he is available, we will support him.
"We have welcomed the decision of the NDCA (national disciplinary committee of appeals) as far as Julius Malema is concerned. The youth league needs to carry out its role within the ANC and we can't be leaderless."
In a clear swipe against Malema, whose suspension from the ANC was upheld by theNDCA in April, Molefe said leaders who were expelled from the party should not be allowed to influence it from the outside.
"We have to ensure that people who have been expelled from the party don't run the organisation from the grave," said Molefe. "No one must run to their farm in Sandton and expect us to worship them."
Mabe was in fine form, giving delegates a taste of what a Mabe leadership would resemble.
He told delegates that all members of the ANC and the youth league had a right to stand for any leadership position, provided they make themselves available.
"When we are called to stand for leadership positions and we make ourselves available, we have to admit that we have ambitions.
"If you are a leader and you don't have ambitions, tlogela (forget)," he said to loud cheers.
Mabe seemed to be setting himself apart from fellow ANCYL leaders, who have repeatedly maintained that the ANC could not expel or suspend its members.
Perhaps giving a nod to the elders, Mabe quoted from the party's constitution which empowers the ANC to play an oversight role on its leagues. - molatlhwao@sowetan.co.za
'Ambitious' Mabe throws hat into Malema succession ring
REINSTATED ANC Youth League treasurer-general Pule Mabe has effectively launched a bold and fierce campaign to replace the embattled Julius Malema as league president.
Mabe, once Malemas co-lieutenant, seems to have secured the support of the ANC Youth League in Gauteng, which will act as his base.
Delegates at the youth league's provincial general council - held yesterday at the University of Johannesburg campus in Soweto - gave Mabe the nod in his attempt to take over the vacant ANCYL presidency.
Provincial youth league deputy chairman Simon Molefe told Sowetan yesterday that Mabe could count on the province's backing.
"When the process (to nominate) starts with our branches we will support him as Gauteng," said Molefe.
"We think that it must start within the structures of the movement and if branches ask him to stand and he is available, we will support him.
"We have welcomed the decision of the NDCA (national disciplinary committee of appeals) as far as Julius Malema is concerned. The youth league needs to carry out its role within the ANC and we can't be leaderless."
In a clear swipe against Malema, whose suspension from the ANC was upheld by theNDCA in April, Molefe said leaders who were expelled from the party should not be allowed to influence it from the outside.
"We have to ensure that people who have been expelled from the party don't run the organisation from the grave," said Molefe. "No one must run to their farm in Sandton and expect us to worship them."
Mabe was in fine form, giving delegates a taste of what a Mabe leadership would resemble.
He told delegates that all members of the ANC and the youth league had a right to stand for any leadership position, provided they make themselves available.
"When we are called to stand for leadership positions and we make ourselves available, we have to admit that we have ambitions.
"If you are a leader and you don't have ambitions, tlogela (forget)," he said to loud cheers.
Mabe seemed to be setting himself apart from fellow ANCYL leaders, who have repeatedly maintained that the ANC could not expel or suspend its members.
Perhaps giving a nod to the elders, Mabe quoted from the party's constitution which empowers the ANC to play an oversight role on its leagues. - molatlhwao@sowetan.co.za