The African National Congress Youth League’s press briefing was disturbed by a group of ANC members in Tongaat this morning.

The General Gizenga Mpanza Region ANCYL in Ilembe was holding conference at the Ndwedwe sub region offices in Tongaat when a group of ANC members entered the office, singing political songs.

The ANCYL leadership walked out and the impostors took over.

“We are here to defend the ANC from the ANCYL who failed to recruit young people to vote for the ANC but they are busy calling media briefings, discussing ANC issues,” said ANC Ndwedwe branch secretary, Bheka Dlamini.

“They must deal with ANCYL matters and young people’s issues and leave ANC matters to us as the ANC,” he said.

The ANCYL called the press conference in light of the political riots in KwaDukuza town last week over the alleged intention of the provincial executive council to bring regional secretary of the ANC, Musa Zondi back into office.

Zondi was found guilty of murder and kidnapping and was sentenced at the Pietermaritzburg High Court last year.

He is out on bail, awaiting his appeal.

“The constitution states that a member found guilty by a court of law cannot lead the ANC.

“If the PEC impose, we will shut down KwaDukuza, including the private companies,” said Dlamini.

Once the impostors had had their say the press briefing continued.

The local ANCYL leadership stated empirically that they were fully behind Zondi, who was previously secretary general to the local youth organisation until May last year when he was elected secretary to the ANC in KwaDukuza.

They claimed that the disgraced young lion was not corrupt and continued to represent the interests of young people.

“Zondi is a threat to the corrupt people in most municipalities and he did very well as the leader of the ANCYL,” said chairperson Mfanafuthi Ngcobo.

During the almost week-long protest in KwaDukuza government departments, including  KwaDukuza (KDM) and Ilembe municipal offices, were closed.

The offices reopened on Tuesday.

 KDM spokesperson Sipho Mkhize said the closure of the municipality was not an easy decision to take.

“However, in the interest of the safety of staff and patrons, it is a decision that had to be made.

“We want to assure all ratepayers that our teams will be working around the clock to bring the situation to its normality.”

He said municipal manager Nhlanhla Mdakane had extended all tenders, closed quotations and posts whose closing date was interrupted by the unrest.