The Eastern Cape ANC Youth League (ANCYL) avoided defying a high court order after they cancelled their provincial conference at the last minute.
The Eastern Cape ANC Youth League (ANCYL) avoided defying a high court order after they cancelled their provincial conference at the last minute.
Last week, the ANCYL organised their provincial congress to be held in Grahamstown, despite a High
Court ruling forbidding them to do so.
Earlier this month Judge Nomatamsanqa Beshe made a judgement that prohibited any ANCYL provincial congress from taking place in the Eastern Cape without the involvement of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).
The ANCYL National Executive Committee (NEC) had disbanded the PEC and Beshe deemed the disbandment to be unlawful as it did not follow the ANCYL’s constitution.
In an attempt to stop the congress, PEC chairperson Mlibo Qoboshiyana brought an urgent application to the High Court stating that the ANCYL was contravening the previous judgement. Judge Belinda Hartle maintained the judgment of Beshe and ruled that the ANCYL is to pay the legal costs of the PEC for bringing the application.
Counsel for the ANCYL, Advocate Richard Quinn, believes Justice Beshe’s ruling was flawed and that the case would be overturned when it goes to appeal.
Counsel for the PEC, Advocate Gerald Bloem told Justice Hartle that she should not allow the ANCYL to operate above the rule of law. In particular, he referred to when ANCYL secretary general Vuyiswa Tulelo called Justice Beshe’s judgement “drunken”.
There were mixed reactions from the ANCYL members present at court. Mawande Ndakisa, a candidate for chairperson of the ANCYL, said that he was pleased with the result and didn’t believe that the conference would go ahead.
“The youth league will always respect the court,” he added.
The Regional Executive Committee refused to give a statement as they were given strict instructions from the NEC not to comment.
The NEC was not present at court for comment. Grahamstown police received Hartle’s court order and were prepared to prevent any meeting from taking place.
