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Age is more than a number in the ANC Youth League. It is the difference between realising your dream of becoming a leader or not.
A fierce debate is raging ahead of the league’s congress at the end of June about whether its former treasurer, Pule Mabe, would be allowed to stand after he turned 35 in March.
It would be Mabe’s second bid at the top job, after his first attempt came to naught when the league’s congress in November collapsed and no elections took place.
Guidelines for the league’s congress, published on its website last month, state that membership of the league is open to “South African youth between the ages of fourteen and thirty-five”.
Only league members can contest the leadership.
There is, however, major disagreement this means that those who have turned 35 can still be a member of the league or whether membership eligibility ends when someone turns 35.
The league’s constitution states that “membership shall lapse when a person turns 35 years”.
One of Mabe’s detractors said they had asked for legal advice to “see if guidelines will be amended”.
According to the lobbyist, who did not want his name mentioned, the league’s guidelines and constitution had to be read as a whole, which meant once members turned 35, they were no longer allowed to be a member.
“When your membership ceases to exist by the virtue of you turning 35 years, it therefore means your leadership position ceases to exist,” he said.
Former league leader Fikile Mbalula was, however, allowed to remain leader even after he turned 35.
He stepped down, aged 36, in 2007.
City Press understands Mabe would be making another bid for the leadership, even though some of those who supported him in Gauteng have indicated they themselves want to run.
League insiders said there was a “record number” of members interested in the position.
Aside from Mabe, there are former national task team coordinator Magasela Mzobe, former league deputy president Ronald Lamola, Gauteng league chairperson Matome Chiloane and Kenny Morolong, deputy executive chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency.
A league insider said the ANC’s national general council, which was due to take place at the end of June, had been delayed to allow for the youth league and the women’s league to have their elective congresses first.
He said it was unlikely that either league would stage a revolt at the NGC, as had happened in the past with the youth league, as new leaders would still be too busy trying to find their feet.
