New youth league chair backs Mabuyane to lead province

Newly elected Eastern CapeANC Youth LeaguechairLihle Chalohas thrown his weight behind premier Oscar Mabuyane to again lead the party in the province. Speaking after his election on Sunday, Chalo said the ANC in the province needed to unite and, according to him, the “face of that unity” is Mabuyane. Mabuyane is expected to contest for a third time for the position of chair against his former ally, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, the current provincial secretary.

His supporters are also pushing for him to take a position nationally, possible as deputy president, when the party goes to its national conference in 2027. “We, as the ANCYL, are preoccupied to see a unitedANC and a stable ANC but I can safely say that under the stewardship and the leadership of comrade Oscar Mabuyane, we have seen serious progress in terms of infrastructure [in Eastern Cape],” Chalo said. He heaped praise on Mabuyane’s work in government, saying upgrades to road infrastructure in the province were as a result of his leadership.

“Even the ANC itself has been very stable under his leadership. We believe the unity of the ANC in the Eastern Cape is sacrosanct, but of course the unity must have a face. “And that face, we believe should be that of the current provincial chair, which is comrade Oscar Mabuyane,” he said.

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He, however, warned that his backing of Mabuyane was not a blank cheque. The youth league would be pushing for the development of young people, who constituted a large number in the province. Chalo called for representation of young people within both the ANC and the government.

Chalo, together with the top leadership of the league, was elected unopposed after several talks behind closed doors to make sure there was no contestation. He takes over from Vuyo Jali, the current deputy speaker of the legislature, whose term as chair has ended.

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