Gauteng ANCYL withdraws statements, ‘blames media’ for issuing them

In the wake of a public spat on Friday between the ANC and the Gauteng ANC Youth League (ANCYL), the ANCYL in the province has withdrawn its statements and criminal charges against former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu. It has also reportedly withdrawn its call for Gauteng premier David Makhura to resign.

The provincial ANCYL also apologised, saying they had been motivated by the media’s reporting of the tragedy.

The ANC had accused its Gauteng youth league in an official statement on Friday of “atrocious grandstanding” by laying criminal charges against Mahlangu over the deaths of 94 mentally ill patients under her watch.

“No one should ever grand stand on anyone’s pain,” the ANC said.

“It is for this reason that the ANC finds the statements of the ANCYL in Gauteng atrocious, despicable and unbefitting not only to members of the ANC but humanity at large.

“During this difficult period, all structures of our movement should be focusing their energies on supporting the bereaved families … this is is not the time for squabbling around leadership positions and unfortunate public displays of disunity.”

Following the release of a damning report into psychiatric patients who died after they were transferred from Life Esidimeni to NGOs around the province, opposition parties the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have laid charges of murder and culpable homicide, respectively, against Mahlangu.

The ANCYL in the province is led by chairman Matome Chiloane, who also laid murder charges at the Johannesburg Central Police Station against Mahlangu. The MEC resigned on Wednesday, a day before Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba released his report into the deaths.

The youth league also demanded Makhura resign as premier, saying he should “listen to his conscience”.

The ANC, however, was not amused with its young firebrands.

“Where there are genuine issues to engage the leadership of the ANC in Gauteng with, the ANC calls for the ANCYL to raise these within acceptable organisational and societal norms. The ANC calls on the ANCYL nationally and the ANC in Gauteng to strongly reprimand the Gauteng ANCYL for their inhumane behaviour.”

The ANCYL, which is seen as part of the pro-President Jacob Zuma faction, was clearly gunning for ANC provincial deputy chairperson Makhura, according to political analysts. The top ANC leadership in the province has always been openly opposed to Zuma’s leadership.

On Thursday, Chiloane said: “Makhura must account for the deaths of 94 patients. He must resign immediately so that the ANC can replace him.”

However, it has now been reported that the league has now completely changed its stance despite standing by their statements late on Friday afternoon.

Radio host Redi Tlhabi was particularly amazed by this revelation.

But Makinana added that the Gauteng ANC Youth League was withdrawing its statements “without reservation”.

The reaction was generally disbelief and scorn from Twitter users.