The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has slammed its youth league leader Collen Malatji’s attack on premier Panyaza Lesufi and his executive. .
While addressing a community gathering in Bekkersdal, Malatji said there are untouchable golden boys who are rewarded with positions in the executive while they fail to do their work.
ANC GAUTENG WEIGHS IN ON COLLEN MALATJI’S ‘RANT’
The South African previously reported that Malatji said voters punished the ANC in Gauteng because employees failed to service the people and that there was no election campaign in Gauteng. Apart from premier Panyaza Lesufi, who was mostly visible.
“The ANC in the province was nowhere during the elections campaign, they were sitting smoking cigars at the stadium, they were sitting in the suites drinking champagne with their slay queens,” Malatji said.
“There are untouchable and golden boys who are always in the executive but have no constituency. Anyone who wants to become an MEC must first fill a stadium, and then we will take it from there,” he added.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, ANC Gauteng spokesperson Lesego Makhubela disputed Malatji’s statement that there are people who are rewarded with positions yet they have no constituency.
Makhubela said majority of the members of the executive are products of ANC youth structures, especially Lebogang Maile who is a former ANC youth league chairperson.
According to reports, Malatji wanted the youth league’s national convenor to be included in the executive but he was not. Additionally, Malatji criticised Lesufi for sidelining other regions when appointing the executive.
The spokesperson said young people are not being overlooked, however, they need to be properly equipped before they are tasked with handling responsibilities in the executive.
“We’ve got to respect the electorate, we’ve got to respect the people of Gauteng by giving them fine and finished products. When we are satisfied that they have learnt and they are able to understand how government and systems of governance work we are then able to give them those particular responsibilities,” Makhubela said.
Lastly, Makhubela said the ANC does not have space for youth league leaders who are attacking the party, the same way Julius Malema did when he was the youth league president.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SQUABBLES WITHIN THE ANC?
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