ANCYL factional war rages in Waterberg

THE ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in Waterberg is embroiled in a bitter factional struggle between two groups of members.

One group calling themselves the Waterberg ANCYL regional task team (RTT), with Veleminah Modise as spokesperson, announced the suspension of two members, convener Sammy Makhubela and coordinator Seraka Mapeka. Simultaneously, a press release was issued by Makhubela and Mapeka, stating that the suspensions did not exist. “The comrades who claim to have suspended the above-named comrades do not have the constitutional powers to do so,” the press release continues.

However, according to Modise, the decision to suspend the two was made pending the outcome of disciplinary processes on charges ranging from defying and undermining the organisational structures and decisions, to putting the party into disrepute.

Modise claimed the decision was made during an RTT meeting in Mokopane two weeks ago. “We are here to rebuild the ANCYL in Waterberg, and the two comrades are anti-ANCYL. A political organisation can’t be run by two individuals. The ANC belongs to those who voluntarily joined, not individuals,” she said.

Modise said Makhubela and Mapeka went to Mogalakwena and Bela-Bela and launched branches of the ANCYL without a mandate from the organisation. “The question is who audited the membership? Who mandated them to do so?”

She said the RTT had further resolved that Duncan Kekana, the regional organiser, would administer both the political and administrative work of the organisation during the period of their suspension.

“Branches of the ANCYL are advised to interact with Kekana in respect of their branch general meetings and any other matters for the attention of the RTT,” Modise said.

But Makhubela and Mapeka’s press release further states: “We call on all our members to remain calm as we work hard to investigate and clamp down on some of these factional tendencies seeking to reverse and undermine the rebuilding of the ANCYL.”

It goes on to say that an extended RTT will be convened and it is expected that all sub-regional conveners and coordinators will attend. “We would like to take this opportunity to dismiss all the fabricated charges since they are intended to undermine the work that we are doing in the region,” the press release continues.

“All ANCYL packages to the branches shall be issued from the office of the regional coordinator and all those who intend to undermine this established practise shall be met with the iron discipline of our movement,” the press release concludes.