ANCYL leadership ‘friends’ again

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has withdrawn the suspension orders that were handed between the President and the Secretary General. 

This follows a clash between President Collen Malatji and SG Mntuwoxolo Ngudle that resulted in both senior officials attempting to suspend each other. 

Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC), Fikile Mbulula, then summoned the two for an urgent meeting at Luthuli House.

“The meeting resolved that all suspension letters issued in relation to the matter be immediately withdrawn,” ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said. 

Newsday previously reported that a suspension letter for Malatji was sent to ANCYL structures on Friday, 21 November, signed by Ngudle. 

According to the SG’s letter, the President was suspended with immediate effect, pending an investigation.

The reasons for his suspension, cited in the letter, include unilaterally convening a parallel meeting of the ANCYL.

The letter further accused Malatji of having “misled all our structures in terms of the role of the president.”

He was also criticised for excluding Ngudle and the Treasury general in preparations for the upcoming 27th Congress, set to take place from 14 to 17 December. 

Malatji confirmed that he excluded certain members from an official meeting, according to the SG, saying that he did not trust those he excluded. 

“The President’s conduct was a deliberate act aimed at undermining the policies of the organisation and weakening its fighting capacity,” the letter read.

Meanwhile, Central News reported that Malatji suspended the SG as well.

Following the meeting with the ANC top brass, Ngudle was required to issue a public apology for circulating the letter. In his apology, he said the events were “regrettable” and would “never happen again.”

“The ANC commends the ANCYL for demonstrating organisational discipline, maturity and unity of purpose by resolving these matters internally and responsibly,” Bhengu said. 

‘ANCYL handled the incident with discipline and maturity’ – ANC

According to party insiders who spoke to News24, the President and SG Ngudle have been clashing over the planning of the upcoming 27th congress of the ANCYL, and tensions between the two have been brewing for months. 

Leaked WhatsApp conversations of the event planning show tensions rising, with Ngudle accusing Deputy Secretary General Tsakani Shiviti of stealing. 

In a separate incident, Ngudle removed the youth league’s spokesperson, Zama Khanyase and national communications manager, Kelebogile Chokoe, from the party’s WhatsApp group. 

Another source told News24 that the tensions can be traced back to the ANCYL’s decision to hold an elective conference so soon after the current leadership was elected in 2023. 

Malatji admitted there was a difference of opinion on the coming conference, but said it was “not a serious thing.”

Culminating in the suspension, Central News reported that the President sent an invitation for an urgent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting without consulting the NEC. Another invitation was issued by the leadership of the ANCYL for the same day. 

Several provinces have been endorsing Malatji to be elected for a second term during the December elective congress.

Ngudle, after turning 35 this month, will age out of the ANCYL at the coming congress.

The ANC urged the youth league to give its “maximum attention” to ensuring that the 27th congress is a success.