Youth league has two sets of leaders

FOLLOWING a chaotic and violent ANC Youth League provincial conference at the weekend, two leadership structures have emerged, each claiming to be legitimately in charge of the youth wing in the Eastern Cape.

Chairs flew, some delegates were hurt and taken to hospital and police were called in as the meeting descended into lawlessness because of disagreements over who had the right to attend.

Delegates from Nelson Mandela Bay were said to have been instigators, a claim they have denied.

Some delegates were forced to leave the Methodist Church in Wilsonia, East London.

They elected their preferred leadership while those inside the venue did the same.

The delegates who left elected Nelson Mandela Bay's Sicelo Mleve provincial chairman.

Mabhuti Matyumza, of Sarah Baartman region, was elected his deputy, with Ndumiso Sapepa (OR Tambo) secretary, Ntombiyakhe Mbedla (Alfred Nzo) deputy provincial secretary and Buffalo City's Antonio Carelse treasurer.

Meanwhile, the group inside the venue installed Alfred Nzo region's Nathi Nqoko as provincial chairman with Amathole's Zolani Thobane deputy chairman, Butsha Lali (Chris Hani) provincial secretary, OR Tambo's Fezeka Ngomonye his deputy and the Bay's Siphokazi Mani treasurer.

Yesterday, Mleve and Lali each claimed their respective structure was the legitimate one. - Mkhululi Ndamase