ANCYL’s hand remains open
"We respect the court ruling and Mr Mantashe's reminder on the court ruling. However, we shall not refuse lending a helping hand to our president,"
A recent call by the ANCYL to mobilise and help Pres Jacob Zuma pay his R7.8 million Nkandla bill has not landed on deaf ears in Mpumalanga.
Recently elected Provincial Deputy Chairman Mr Trevor Nkosi told the Highvelder that the Youth League in the province supported the call made by the Youth League’s President Mr Collen Maine. He asked young people who had the resources and financial ability and who were willing to help the president, to do so.
“It is rather unfortunate that our region doesn’t have that capacity. If we did, we would have helped the president,” he said.
He added that the ANC in the province was also willing to come to the party should Pres Zuma approach them for assistance.
“There are certain branches ready to provide help to the president, who are just waiting for such a call for help. Remember that branches are the basic units of the organisation and the president was elected by the branches, so we see nothing wrong in helping out willingly.”
When asked about the warning by the Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe during his recent visit to Ermelo where he reminded party members that the judgement required the president to pay personally and spoke against members being in contempt of the court, Mr Nkosi said branches of the ANC in the province were singing the same tune to give donations to the president which he can use whatever way he sees fit, whether to settle his Nkandla debt or anything else.
“We respect the court ruling and Mr Mantashe’s reminder on the court ruling. However, we shall not refuse lending a helping hand to our president,” Mr Nkosi maintained.
Responding to questions about his new role and programmes as Provincial Deputy Chairman, Mr Nkosi said their main focus right now was the local government election after which they would concentrate on youth programmes.
“Part of our programmes include meeting with various MECs to establish how they will assist in youth development. We will engage various companies’ CEOs and local mines to reach amicable solutions to the challenges facing our youth. It is also important that the youth obtains economic freedom in our lifetime, regardless of political affiliation, race or gender,” he said.
