ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji says there is no bad blood between him and secretary-general Mntuwoxolo Ngudle, even after Ngudle’s recent attempt to suspend him, as the league prepares for the elective conference this weekend where Ngudle may lose his position.
The tension between the two leaders was resolved last month after ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula intervened to calm internal power clash divisions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC’s National General Council meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, where the party is reviewing its performance, Malatji insisted that his working relationship with Ngudle had stabilised.
‘Yes, we are in good relations with the SG (secretary general). I think you have seen the apology letter. He also apologised,’ he told News.
He said that the issues between them had been dealt with.
“Whatever issues that he had were addressed. There was no intervention of the secretary-general on the matter,’ he said.
Malatji maintained that their meeting with Mbalula was merely to report on conference readiness, not to resolve political infighting.
However, shortly after Ngudle issued the suspension letter, it emerged that Mbalula had called an urgent meeting with youth league NEC members to address the matter.
Following that meeting on November 21, Ngudle issued a public apology.
Still, Malatji insists they settled the matter privately.
‘We resolved it on our own. He ultimately went public and apologised for what he did because there was no basis for the suspension. And we moved on from that part,’ he said.
He added that preparations for the upcoming conference, scheduled to begin on Sunday, were progressing smoothly.
“We are organising the conference together. It is a peaceful process that will not have any problems,’ he said.
The ANCYL will hold its 27th National Congress in Polokwane, Limpopo, from December 14 to 17.
In his suspension letter issued last month, Ngudle said the youth league NEC had met on November 20, and resolved to suspend Malatji pending an investigation.
He said the decision was in line with Schedule A of the ANCYL constitution.
Ngudle accused Malatji of convening a parallel meeting of the youth league and misleading structures about the president’s role.
He also alleged that Malatji excluded both the secretary-general and the treasurer-general from preparations for the national congress, citing mistrust, which he said amounted to undermining organisational policies and weakening the league’s capacity.
He said Malatji’s actions violated article 2.2.2 of the ANCYL constitution by creating divisions, sabotaging organisational activities, and undermining the league’s effectiveness.
However, News understands that Ngudle acted out of concern that he would be removed from his position at the elective conference.
Both he and treasurer-general Zwelo Masilela will be over the youth league’s age limit of 35 after the congress.
Malatji, born in 1993, is 32 and expected to run uncontested for a second term.
After Mbalula’s intervention, Ngudle issued a public apology on November 21.
‘I wish to publicly apologise for the letter to suspend the president of the ANCYL, comrade Collen Malatji. I profusely apologise to the collective I lead with, the membership of the Youth League and the ANC for any damage caused,’ he said.
He described his actions as ‘regrettable’.
The youth league NEC had initially resolved on November 20, to suspend Ngudle following concerns about discipline and conduct.
But after meeting Mbalula, his suspension was lifted and he was instructed to issue a public apology for what the NEC called an ‘unsanctioned, irresponsible and misleading’ attempt to suspend Malatji.
“The NEC further resolved that should this type of misconduct occur again, the suspension will be automatically reinstated without further deliberation,” the league said.
Politics
