Zuma lashes young Reds

The Young Communist League has fired the first salvo in the ANC’s succession battle before its 2012 elective conference by hinting that it would endorse a second term for President Jacob Zuma.

The YCL is the first in the ruling alliance to indicate a preference for the ANC’s top job as pockets of ANC alliance groups have stepped up their criticism of the president, an indication that he may be challenged at the 2012 conference.

But the accolade did not prevent Zuma yesterday from strongly berating the young Reds over the violence during its weekend congress.

Zuma addressed delegates at the YCL conference in Mafikeng.

Buti Manamela, who was unanimously re-elected YCL national secretary on Saturday night for a third term - after a walkout by most of his detractors - yesterday told delegates that Zuma’s name “will be amongst” those proposed by the YCL to become president in 2014, just as it was in 2006.

“We must ensure that there is continuity in those victories, and we have no doubt that the current president of the Republic will be the president of the Republic in 2014 and moving forward.”

The congress did not officially endorse Manamela’s stance, but his statement was greeted with applause.

Manamela has admitted to being close to SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, who is still considered to be a top ally of Zuma.

Zuma said yesterday the chair-throwing between delegates from competing factions, in the full glare of television cameras, after spats about accreditation difficulties, was “killing the spirit” and “the hope” of those who looked up to the YCL.

The seats of delegates from KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, where the weekend scuffles took place, were empty as most of them left after the defeat of their chosen delegate, former YCL deputy secretary Khaye Nkwanyama.

Zuma urged the YCL to step up its political education, saying “what happened on the television reflects the weakness in political education”.

He said communists should be different from others in the alliance and the police should not have to be called to resolve differences - as was necessary on Saturday.

Police had previously been called to quell stand-offs at ANC and ANC Youth League meetings, including a conference in Limpopo in April where youth league leader Julius Malema was present.

Zuma said: “The march of the times challenges us to put differences aside. The challenges we have are more complex than we had in the Struggle.”

He urged the YCL to work with the SACP and the ANC Youth League - which should in turn work with the ANC.- Political Bureau