After hours of delays, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in the North West finally convened its 10th provincial congress and elected its new leadership in the early hours of Tuesday morning.The elective conference was initially organised to start on Sunday, however, due to protracted registrations of delegates, it was officially opened on Monday night by the league’s President Collen Malatji followed by the election of the new leadership.
The former Provincial Chairperson Wessels Morweng was re-elected to lead the league in the province beating his contender and the former provincial spokesperson Motebang Mohlomi who was commended for showing character and contesting for the position.Sindizwa Scheepers, was elected Morweng’s Deputy while Brian Huma and Letlhogonolo Modibane were elected Provincial Secretary and Provincial Deputy Secretary respectively, with Gopolang Molale as the Provincial Treasurer.Speaking on You FM Newshour, Huma said that these leaders have been tasked with the responsibility of leading the province in the next four years.In addition, the league said that contestation of leadership positions within the organisation is healthy for it and the country’s democracy.
“Members of the youth league must be able to appreciate that they were able to raise their views in the conference.They were able to differ in terms of the preference of the leadership that would be able to champion their interest and ensure that they choose correct leaders that they believe will also represent their views and aspirations. So, members of the ANCYL the message they must have is that our democracy as the movement as the organisation continues to show that there is interest in the youth league.You would remember that we are rebuilding the structures of the youth league, where you would know there’s been a political lull for quite some time,” said Huma.
Furthermore, Huma commend the contenders for a clean healthy contest. “We are rebuilding structures of the youth league and members of the youth league from branch level to ensure that we have activities of the youth league. So, it was a good congress to see such a contest leading to the next local government elections that we are having young people much interested in the affairs of the congress youth league. So, we believe the contest was healthy for that,” explained provincial secretary.
Huma said that due to time constraints the congress was unable to discuss and adopt the policy documents of the organisation. “We agreed as the congress and the delegates that because of the time constraints that we experienced we will have the second leg that is going to the communicated to the members of the organisation. It’ll primarily deal with necessary documents that were adopted as the policy compass of the structure that must ensure that we develop a programme of action that is going to speak to issues of the young people, ensure that we develop commissions that will be addressing the issue of unemployment and many other issues,” remarked Huma.
The newly elected leadership said that it appreciates a mammoth task of rebuilding the structures of the league that lies ahead for them, but have no doubt that they are capable, have capacity and are equal to the task.
