ANC Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has emphasised that the ANC does not belong to the Democratic Alliance (DA) or its federal chairperson Helen Zille, urging the party to reclaim its identity without non-members.
Speaking at the Gauteng ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in Boksburg on Monday, Lesufi called for efforts to reshape the party's unity and strength.
For the first time in over a decade, the youth league is holding its provincial elective conference in Boksburg in Ekurhuleni.
Lesufi made it clear that they will never allow anyone to dictate terms to them. He told the young lions to roar differently under the Government of National Unity (GNU) so that the ANC can achieve its position of a "better life for all."
"We need fresh ideas, thinking, approach and that approach is one and one thing only. The ANC does not belong to the DA, it does not belong to Helen Zille and the ANC must reclaim its stand at any time.
"We might be a generation of government of national unity but our approach is very simple, it is the total emancipation for power, for everyone so that the ANC must lead this government and the country alone without any other person accompanying us.
"We need young people to shape that particular future," he said.
Zille has been in loggerheads with Lesufi, accusing him of running Gauteng in his capacity without the national ANC orders.
This also led to the DA writing to the ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) defended Lesufi against Zille saying they must never dare touch Lesufi.
IOL Politics