ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Malatji has called on older African National Congress (ANC) leaders to retire and make way for younger members, accusing veteran politicians of undermining the party’s future.
Malatji’s remarks followed ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe’s walkout from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) 15th National Congress in Kempton Park on Monday, October 12, after a disagreement over the order of speakers.
Speaking during a campaign trail in the Eastern Cape, Malatji criticised Mantashe’s conduct, saying the ANC could not dictate how its alliance partner organised its conferences.
“Pensioners are killing the ANC every day. There is one pensioner yesterday, walked out of a COSATU conference. A conference of workers where we must be united,” Malatji said.
He accused the veteran politician of forgetting that he was attending the gathering as a representative of the ANC to address workers, rather than to advance his own interests.
“He went there thinking that he is representing his jacket and his family, he forgot that he went there to address the working class on behalf of the African National Congress,” Malatji said.
“The ANC, it is not an arrogant organization. We can't go to a conference of COSATU and tell COSATU what time we want to speak and when we want to speak when you are invited at the conference of COSATU.”
Malatji said the incident risked reinforcing perceptions that the ANC was arrogant, adding that the party needed to conduct itself in a manner that respected its alliance partners.
Malatji wants younger leaders to take over
The ANCYL president also seized on Mantashe’s stated intention not to seek another leadership position when his current term ends, arguing that the departure of older leaders would create an opportunity for younger members to take charge of the organisation.
“At least that pensioner, unlike other pensioners, he spoke out that he is retiring, he's coming back here at Qala to take care of grandkids. The sooner he retires with his friends, the better. So that we take over the ANC and correct it,” Malatji said.
He went further, calling on young ANC members to take action if older leaders refused to step aside voluntarily.
“And if they don't retire voluntarily, the youth of the African National Congress must rise and remove them out of position and install ourselves,” he said.
Malatji maintained that the ANC’s history and legacy would allow it to overcome its current challenges, despite what he described as the damaging influence of older leaders.
“The ANC of Oliver Tambo can't be killed by pensioners. The ANC of Oliver Tambo survived apartheid. The ANC of Oliver Tambo will survive even the moment of today,” he said.
Mantashe’s walkout sparks criticism
Mantashe walked out of the Cosatu congress after objecting to the scheduled order of speakers. He had been expected to address delegates before representatives of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), but reportedly wanted the ANC to speak last, in keeping with what he regarded as the established tradition.
His departure drew criticism from the labour federation, which viewed the incident as disrespectful to its conference and raised concerns about the ANC’s attitude towards its alliance partners.
In comments reported by TimesLIVE, Malatji described the walkout as “irresponsible and arrogant” and said he intended to engage Mantashe to understand the reasons behind his actions.
He also called on ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene, while apologising to Cosatu over the incident.
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