“This is the last kick of a dying horse. We are not here to please them (ANCYL). They are out of touch with society.”
|||Cape Town - The leadership of the ANC Youth League in the metro are a bunch of “attention seekers out of touch with society” seeking relevance in the toilet war targeted at Premier Helen Zille, says former ANC councillor and suspended youth league member Andile Lili.
This comes after the league’s Dullah Omar (metro) region distanced itself from the portaloo protests on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a police escort carrying Zille and guests was targeted by protesters, who flung buckets of human waste at the convoy as it left an official event in Khayelitsha. This came a day after protesters, led by Lili and ANC councillor and league member Loyiso Nkohla, emptied five portaloos full of faeces on the steps of the provincial legislature on Wale Street.
On Wednesday, regional ANCYL chairman Khaya Yozi said an internal probe would determine which members were involved in the protests, and those found guilty would face disciplinary action.
“This was not a programme of the ANC Youth League… as members of the league they are bound and guided by the ANCYL constitution. ANCYL members do have a responsibility to act in an exemplary manner.”
Yozi added that Lili was 37 years old and had graduated from the ANCYL.
“Lili was acting in his personal capacity. He is not a member of the league anymore.”
In response, Lili said the league was “speaking without any understanding of what is going on on the ground”.
“This is the last kick of a dying horse. We are not here to please them (ANCYL). They are out of touch with society, this is why informal settlements are coming to us for help.”
Nkohla vowed to continue with the “faeces war” on Zille.
“Their investigation is not going to stop me representing the people when they call on me for help,” he said.
“The people have a genuine concern and we will continue until Zille stops this racist approach when it comes to black people. The portaloo toilets are no better than the open-air toilets. They flush but the waste does not go down a drain, it stays in your shack causing a stink.”
Zak Mbhele, Zille’s spokesman, said legal advice had been sought on filing charges against the protesters.
Two people were arrested and charged with public violence during the protest in Harare on Tuesday.
Bongile Zanazo, 23, was granted bail on Wednesday and is due back in court on July 5. The second suspect was released because of a lack of evidence, said the NPA’s Eric Ntabazalila
* Cosatu has offered to mediate for an end to the “toilet war” between residents and the provincial government. “There are also significant health risks with this kind of protest action. We understand the frustration of the people but do not believe this is the best way to resolve problems,” said provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich.
Cape Argus