BURGERSFORT – The African National Congress Youth League (Ancyl) held a meeting on July 7 at the old municipal chambers.
During the meeting, members of the youth league voiced their anger about the manner in which the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) operated in the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM). They accused it of failing the communities of Tubatse and sidelining the youth when it came to decision making.
“We are here today after achieving our goal of expelling a narrow-minded mayor Mr Nkosiyabo Josias Mahlake,” said Ancyl secretary, Mr Eddie Maile.
He also said that the leadership of Sanco had not been democratically elected and had to be removed because it was not interested in helping the communities, but only cared about itself. The youth league further accused Sanco of only engaging with eight branches during its leadership elections and ignoring the other 23.
“We are comrades who cannot take mandates from a disabled mayor like Mahlake and we must declare war against the so-called Sanco and its self-elected leadership (sic),” said Ancyl chairman, Mr Jeffrey Mashoeu. The youth were in a celebratory mood as they sang and welcomed the riddance of Mahlake as a mayor.
They claimed that the communities of Tubatse were not benefiting from the mines which operated around them and put the blame on the organisation, saying it was failing them.
They highlighted that they wanted to see 60 per cent of all job opportunities in Tubatse given to the youth, and that they wanted new names and fresh ideas in the GTM.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted Mr Jerry Maseko, secretary of the ANC in the Sekhukhune region for clarity on the issue. “Ancyl has no jurisdiction to question or interfere with the way in which Sanco operates, only members of the community have the authority to do so,” he said.
