Mantashe hits out at ANCYL
ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe has lashed out at the Youth League, saying it is in danger of becoming completely irrelevant.
Speaking at the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) conference, Mantashe compared the Youth League leadership to 'henchmen' who are being used to fight political battles on behalf of others.
"Our own Youth League has decided to be henchmen who get unleashed on individual comrades. When you have a structure like that, you almost have no structure," Mantashe told laughing delegates
Mantashe told delegates that the Youth League is targeting people like Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, in the same way former President Thabo Mbeki was targeted in the run-up to the 2007 Polokwane conference.
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Mantashe says, in his opinion, the league is basically non-existent.
"It is not going to play its rightful role. It will be henchmen used to be unleased on individual candidates and create enemies that do not exist. This week I have listened to them. I called them and engaged them. I chose to keep quiet. I think they have been told they have to focus on Ramaphosa and Pravin. Those are not their enemies."