Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi is at loggerheads with the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in the province over his executive reshuffle this week.
The youth league is upset Lesufi failed to include its provincial chairperson Ntsako Mogobe in his executive.
It said it has pleaded with Lesufi to appoint a young person of its choosing as an MEC.
This comes after Lesufi made changes to his executive, bringing in the EFF’s provincial leader Nkululeko Dunga as the new finance MEC.
The changes also saw ANC Gauteng strongman Lebogang Maile shifted from finance to education and sports. Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has been moved from the health department to social development, effectively swapping posts with Faith Mazibuko.
Matome Chiloane was dropped from the executive in a move Lesufi described as painful but necessary as the provincial budget was not going to be passed without assistance from the EFF.
The youth league has insisted it wants a share of the pie.
“The ANCYL in Gauteng notes with deep concern and unequivocal rejection the recent reshuffle of the Gauteng provincial cabinet by the ANC,” said the league’s provincial secretary Mpume Sangweni.
“The reshuffle represents yet another missed historic opportunity to decisively advance the transformation agenda, deepen generational renewal and restore the confidence of the youth in the movement of Oliver Tambo.”
The ANCYL said it was wrong that the youth, who make up 60% of the province’s demographic, did not find expression in the executive.
“The demographic reality places an urgent political and moral responsibility on the governing party to ensure = the youth are not merely spectators, but active participants in governance and decision-making processes,” said Sangweni.
The ANCYL accused Lesufi of ignoring requests made at its conference for Mogobe to be included in the executive, despite this being the third reshuffle where his appointment could have been effected.
“Such a posture reflects a worrying trend of marginalising the youth within the movement and undermines internal democratic processes. It sends a dangerous message that the voice of the youth can be disregarded without consequence,” said Sangweni.
“It is deeply regrettable that despite many engagements with the leadership of the ANC, this is the third reshuffle in which the clearly articulated and democratically adopted resolutions of the ANCYL have been deliberately ignored.”
The ANC in the province welcomed Lesufi’s reshuffle, saying it was part of strengthening governance and improving service delivery.
“This intervention comes at an important time for Gauteng as the provincial government intensifies efforts to respond to the needs of residents, accelerate key service delivery priorities and implement developmental programmes across the province,” read a statement by the ANC Gauteng provincial task team (PTT).
“The ANC Gauteng PTT views this development as a necessary and responsive step to ensure government remains effective, focused and capable of meeting the expectations of the people of Gauteng, particularly after the successful passing of the 2025/2026 adjustment budget, which provides the necessary mandate and resources to drive this work forward.”
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