Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has a new headache at his table; the ANC Youth League in the province wants in on the gravy train.
If Lesufi is to entertain the young lions, it calls for a reshuffle of the provincial cabinet in which one MEC in the current cohort must bite the dust.
This is one of the demands contained in a string of demands by the provincial youth league, which they publicised on Wednesday.
The youth league officials, led by provincial chairman Ntsako Magobe and provincial secretary Mpume Sangweni, said they had told Lesufi that they want in.
Sangweni explained: “We are aware that the ANC did not win with an outright majority in Gauteng; however, we believe that in constituting the provincial government and executive, those responsible for that should have considered young people.
“The [ANC] women’s league was considered; all alliance partners were considered; it is just the poor youth league that was not considered.
“It is a clear indication that the young people of the province are not taken seriously.”
The youth league went as far as saying they believed they were in an “abusive relationship” with Lesufi, whom they like and support, but they’re not getting anything in return.
Youth league targets Mamabolo
Their demand for inclusion would not be the first of that kind; in 2019 the women’s league in Gauteng fought a similar battle and won, with Luthuli House instructing that Sputla Ramokgopa resign and for then-premier David Makhura to appoint Morakane Mosupyoe.
The youth league is reportedly targeting MEC Jacob Mamabolo, who oversees cooperative governance and traditional affairs and is affiliated with the alliance partner, the SACP.
Alternatively, the youth league has apparently suggested that the community safety portfolio that was placed within Lesufi’s office be made an independent entity and given to young people to run.
In addition, the Youth League advocates for a revamp of the Gauteng City Region Academy and its handover to the youth.
This is the entity that was tasked with the job creation initiative known as the Nas’iSpani initiative, which the league believes was totally mishandled because of mismanagement and corruption.
They want to run it themselves going forward.
Another demand is for the provincial government to channel 30% of all procurement to youth-owned businesses.
Provincial youth fund
To top it all, the youth league has called on Lesufi to establish a provincial youth fund no later than next year and allocate R1-billion into it to support businesses and cooperatives run by young people.
Sangweni warned that if Lesufi ignores their “demands”, they will find “creative ways” to exert pressure on him.
The demand for inclusion in the provincial executive council is likely to be the toughest for Lesufi, especially in a situation where the ANC leads a government of provincial unity that includes other political parties.
If he chooses to implement changes and sacrifice an MEC, he must choose an ANC comrade who has been carefully selected to strike a balance and satisfy all factions within the mass democratic movement.
At the time Lesufi formed the incumbent provincial executive, it was easy to ignore the youth league, which did not have an elected structure but has since gone to conference and elected new leaders.
