Youth league snubbed ahead of student elections
Ahead of the elections, Esayidi TVET College Gamalakhe Campus is led by the EFF Student Command.
The Esayidi TVET College Student Representative Council’s (SRC) elections, which take place last Thursday, have revealed cracks in the Tolomane Mnyayiza Region’s ANC Youth League.
Last Friday, the leadership of the ANCYL Tolomane Mnyayiza was rejected by the South African Students’ Congress (Sasco) Gamalakhe branch when it delivered groceries to the Gamalakhe TVET students affected by the recent heavy rains.
The branch coordinator, Andiswa Madiya, said Sasco Gamalakhe Campus distanced itself from the ANCYL programme.
Madiya said that although they tried to talk to the ANCYL, they proceeded with the programme without the branch leadership.
“We express our disappointment towards the ANCYL regional leadership for introducing such a divisive programme on the eve of the SRC elections. We urge all ground forces and members of the gigantic student movement to remain calm and trust in the branch leadership,” she said.
Siphelele Cele, who organised several programmes ahead of the SRC elections, including inviting Mzwandile Mkhwanazi to the Gamalakhe Campus, accused the ANCYL of behaving like a hired gun.
He said they cannot allow their unity to be compromised by the ANCYL leadership.
“We can’t divide a branch over 10 or 20 food parcels on the eve of the SRC election; the food issue is sensitive. The ANCYL in Tolomane leads a community. We sincerely ask them to address the branches in the community they lead. SASCO is on a campaign for the SRC, and we cannot go around explaining the issue of food parcels to students after the youth league has left,” he said.
Comments from the ANCYL Tolomane Mnyayiza regional task team convenor and coordinator were not received at the time of going to press.
However, taking to social media, the ANCYL in the region said it was responding to a sincere request by students affected by the recent heavy rains.
“The ANCYL regional task team of the Tolomane Mnyayiza Region visited students affected by recent floods and extended a helping hand as per their request. Some of the conversations included discussions about how they believe their places of residence could improve,” said the ANCYL.
Meanwhile, some welcomed the initiative by the youth league.
Smangaliso Mathamahle said one was grateful for the response.
“We applaud students of the Gamalakhe Campus for their discipline and conduct when the leadership visited them. One can confirm that there is no division because the programme was mainly aimed at students affected by the floods,” he said.
The Gamalakhe Campus is currently led by the EFF Student Command (EFFSC).
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