“The timing of this so-called suspension raises serious concerns.”
A power struggle within the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in the Alfred Nzo Region has taken a dramatic turn with the suspension of Regional Secretary Lihle Chalo. The suspension, which was announced on November 11, 2025, has sparked a heated debate within the organization, with some members disputing its legitimacy.
According to the suspension letter, Chalo was accused of dividing the movement and pushing parallelism within the ANCYL in Alfred Nzo Region. The letter cited specific clauses of the ANCYL Constitution, including Clause 2.1, which defines acts aimed at damaging the integrity of the organization as a grave offence.
However, the ANCYL Alfred Nzo Region has disputed the suspension, claiming that it was not issued through any constitutionally sanctioned process. “We wish to categorically dispute the legitimacy and authenticity of this letter, as it was not issued through any constitutionally sanctioned process of the organisation,” the region said in a statement.
The region argued that the suspension was premature, irregular, and of no force or effect within the structures of the Youth League. “The timing of this so-called suspension raises serious concerns, as it comes at a crucial juncture when Cde Lihle Chalo has been widely endorsed by several Youth League branches across the province as a preferred candidate for the position of Provincial Secretary in the upcoming ANCYL Provincial Congress,” the region said.
The suspension has also sparked a mixed reaction from within the organization. The ANCYL Ntabankulu Sub-region has accepted the decision to suspend Chalo, citing the need to maintain organizational integrity and discipline. “We are strongly against any divisive tendencies and parallelism that were being sowed by the suspended regional secretary and undermining the authority and organisational integrity of the ANCYL in Alfred Nzo region,” the sub-region said.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the ANCYL will navigate this leadership crisis. One thing is certain, however: the organization’s ability to maintain unity and discipline will be put to the test in the coming days.
The Article will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
