The ANCYL has said it will go ahead with its provincial conference today and tomorrow despite a decision by Judge Belinda Hartle in the Grahamstown High Court this morning to uphold Judge Nomatamsanqa Beshe’s earlier ruling that prohibited the conference from taking place.
The ANCYL has said it will go ahead with its provincial conference today and tomorrow despite a decision by Judge Belinda Hartle in the Grahamstown High Court this morning to uphold Judge Nomatamsanqa Beshe’s earlier ruling that prohibited the conference from taking place.
In her judgement on 9 July, Judge Beshe said: "The ANCYL is hereby interdicted from holding a provincial congress at Grahamstown or any other place in the Eastern Cape on the 10th of July 2010 or any other date unless such congress is convened at the instance and with the participation of the provincial executive committee in the convening of such congress."
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANCYL chose to ignore Beshe’s ruling and organised a provincial meeting in Grahamstown for today and tomorrow. Earlier this week, PEC chairperson Mlibo Qoboshiyana brought an urgent application to the High Court in order to stop the meeting from taking place.
Advocate Richard Quinn, counsel for the ANCYL, highlighted his belief that the ruling of Justice Beshe was flawed and that it would be overturned when it goes to appeal. Advocate Gerald Bloem, council for the PEC, stated that Hartle should not allow the ANCYL to operate above the rule of law, referring particularly to ANCYL secretary general Vuyiswa Tulelo’s calling Justice Beshe’s judgment “drunken”.
There were mixed reactions from the ANCYL members present at court, with some believing that the NEC’s disbanding of the PEC is not part of the ANC constitution and thus they were happy with the ruling. Mawande Ndakisa, 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. However they did say that they would proceed with the conference and that the registration of their delegates would take place as planned. The NEC was not present at court for comment.
Police confirmed that they have received Hartle’s court order. “Police will try to prevent the meeting from taking place because they are contravening a court order,” said Colonel Nel, explaining police measures should the meeting take place.
