The ANC youth league in the Sara Baartman region will elect its new leadership for next year in their regional conference in Tsitsikamma tomorrow, Saturday 23 August.

The ANC youth league in the Sara Baartman region will elect its new leadership for next year in their regional conference in Tsitsikamma tomorrow, Saturday 23 August.

Outgoing chairman Mabhuti Matyumza told Grocott's Mail today that he will not stand for the position of chairman when the organisation elects the new leadership in tomorrow's conference. Among his reasons, Matyumza said, was the fact that he had been in the position for a long time.

"I have been the chairperson of the region for two terms and really it would be unfair to stand for the third time. In the organisation, the branches of the region decide who they want for the position of chairperson and secretary," he said.

Matyumza said he was unable to say who might be a the prospective candidate for his position or that of the secretary. Reliable sources have told Grocott's Mail that 64 branches are supporting Solethu Lucas for the secretary position, but Matyumza said things could change.

"A structure like Cosas can raise a prospective person they are supporting – but things can change during the election process. Remember, we are going to the provincial and the national conference of the league."

"All we say is we will support the leadership that is elected, as it will not divorce the struggle of Economic Freedom. And that decision [about leadership]is for the branches to take," he said.

The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) Provincial chairperson Ntombikayise Tini was guarded in her response, saying Cosas did not want to pronounce on the potential candidates of the youth league.

She said Cosas had decided not to get involved in the process, but would support whoever was elected by the youth league. Getting involved, she said, would compromise relations within the organisation.

The conference is expected to take place in Tsitsikamma tomorrow.

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