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Durban - Public mudslinging continued between the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday with the latter launching a fresh salvo during a press briefing.
The "young lions" called on the SACP to refrain from discussing ANC leadership issues - this as the province prepared to elect a new eThekwini regional chair and new provincial chairperson.
The two highly contested positions would see eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo go head-to-head with councillor Zandile Gumede for the regional chair.
Current chairperson Senzo Mchunu and provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala take on each other for the provincial chair position.
On Monday, the league blamed the SACP for leaking a story to The Sunday Times saying the ANCYL had met deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa in KwaZulu-Natal and informed him it would support Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for president in 2017.
ANCYL provincial deputy chair Kwazi Mshengu said: "The SACP in this province held a media briefing last week and told the media they believed it is the status quo that will save the unity of this province."
He said SACP members brought no value to the ANC, except to talk about conspiracy theories.
"We are still surprised as to why the SACP would go to its central committee and discuss a 'concocted animal' called the 'premier league', something that is non-existent."
He said the SACP tried to link the "premier league" to the outcomes of the ANCYL national congress.
The "premier league" allegedly included Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza of Mpumalanga, North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and Free State premier Ace Magashule.
The three also chair the ANC in their respective provinces.
It was alleged their plan was to entrench themselves as leaders or kingmakers for 2017 when the ANC would elect president Jacob Zuma’s successor.
ANCYL provincial secretary Thanduxolo Sabela also took a dig at the Young Communist League (YCL), saying it should get its house in order.
“They must move away from being told who must lead the YCL and be able to choose their leadership. They know nothing about democracy."
ANCYL treasurer Siyabonga Nene said: "We don't deal with lizards, we deal with crocodiles and from where we are, the YCL should be kneeling down to us. We refuse to be side-tracked by lizards while our target is the crocodile."
