Independent Newspapers intent on compromising Comrade Mbalula

The African National Congress Youth League has noted and harshly condemns the dirty and malicious attempts by the Independent Group of newspapers to discredit and decampaign Comrade Fikile Mbalula (see Sunday Independent report).

The article that appeared on the front page of the Sunday Independent on the 14th October 2012, is the second instance is as many weeks by the Independent Group and its journalists, where false and misleading information is deliberately published about Comrade Mbalula and his pending election as Secretary-General of the African National Congress at the 53rd National Conference in Manguang.

The Star, part of the Independent Group, on the 1st October, published a blatant lie of a story titled "ANCYL drops Mbalula". Such malicious journalism is designed to create an impression that the African National Congress Youth League would "dump" Comrade Mbalula, a unsubstantiated and shameful lie which was published even when the correct information was provided to the newspaper.

Let it be known by all, particularly the Independent Newspapers, that their attempts to discredit Comrade Mbalula will never succeed. Comrade Fikile has supported of the branches of the ANC, he has served the structures of the African National Congress with distinction for more than 2 decades and he therefore does not need approval from armchair revolutionaries in the form of the Independent Newspapers to tell our branches who their leaders are and what their views are on any matter.

We are left with no choice but to believe that the Independent Group is running a politically motivated and dirty campaign against Comrade Mbalula and we will stop at no end to find out why. We can only conclude at this point that the newspaper has a vested interest in the Mangaung conference is obviously prepared to stoop to all and any level to discredit Comrade Mbalula.

We reiterate our support for Comrade Fikile Mbalula, it is precisely because of his fearlessness as a leader, that media shall connive with unknown forces to isolate him from members of the ANC who have declared their support for him. This attempt will never succeed.

Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, October 15 2012

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