After hours of delays, the ANC Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal finally met and elected its new leadership on Monday morning.
The elective conference had started on Saturday, however, due to unresolved issues, it was officially opened on Sunday night by the deputy provincial chairperson of the ANC Nomagugu Simelane. The election of the new leadership took place in the early hours of Monday.
Ntokozo Ngcobo, eThekwini regional chairperson is the new provincial chairperson while Lulama Mabude from Moses Mabhida region (Pietermaritzburg) was elected to the secretary position. Phindile Mdada from General Gizenga Mpanza region (KwaDukuza) will deputise Ngcobo while Siyabonga Mzenda from the Musa Dladla region (Richards Bay) was elected as deputy secretary. The Treasurer position went to Siphelele Masuku from the Josiah Gumede region (Ladysmith).
According to delegates who spoke on condition of anonymity, the delay was caused by queries over the delegates’ credentials. The delegate said one of the causes of the delay was the issue of some of the delegates from the Tolomane Mnyauza region (formerly known as Ugu) on the South Coast of the province whose names did not appear on the list of delegates.
The league has been without the leadership in recent years after several postponements due to unresolved issues. The last leadership was led by former Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu as the provincial chairperson and Thanduxolo Sabelo as the secretary in 2022. The last attempt to hold the conference was in July 2023 and this was cancelled at the last minute by the national leadership which directed that all conferences must be halted with the focus on the last year’s general elections.
Later on Monday, the delegates are expected to vote for the additional members who will constitute the league’s provincial executive committee.