Former Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA) provincial secretary Life Mokone, who was suspended from his duties in 2015, has been cleared after a political commission consisting of COSATU and the SA Communist Party received a report from the province.
The commission suspended Mokone on October 27, 2015 and pending disciplinary hearings.
“I knew I was innocent from the moment these charges were brought up,” said Mokone in an interview with The Weekly.
“It got me thinking… that these charges were dubious and a fabrication because of the behaviour of some members within the organisation. I knew nothing of what I was being accused of,” he added.
Mokone was charged with contravening clause 3.2 (F) of the code of conduct of the YCLSA’s constitution, on the grounds that he intentionally, consciously and carelessly conveyed and passed on information that could be of substantial use to the opponents of the YCLSA.
It was alleged that Mokone had conveyed the 3rd Plenary Session Financial Report of the YCLSA to a “Sowetan journalist”.
He was also accused of contravening clause 3.2 (K) in that he convened and engineered an informal meeting, with the sole purpose of dividing the YCLSA.
Mokone was further said to have contravened clause 3.2 (H), after he allegedly engaged in corruption and bribery by abusing his official capacity as a sitting provincial secretary.
He was also charged with contravening clause 3.1 (M) for allegedly consciously and intentionally violating and defying the National Committee’s decision which was communicated to the Sub-National Structures.
The final charge was that he contravened clause 3.2 (J) after it was alleged that he deliberately undermined the political, revolutionary and the ideological decision of the Provincial Executive Committee.
YCLSA convened its first plenary session of the 5th Congress National Committee from March 1-3 this year, and amongst the issues dealt with in the meeting, was Mokone’s appeal to his suspension.
In a letter addressed to Mokone which was seen by this newspaper, YCLSA national secretary Tinyiko Ntini said the league had decided to clear him following a thorough investigation into the charges.
Ntini noted the executive was also satisfied with Mokone’s conduct during the period of suspension and had decided to lift the ban.
“Whilst we acknowledge that you may have outgrown the youth politics, it is however our gesture to clear your name, so as to allow you to participate in other activities of the organisation…” read part of the letter.
However, despite his name being cleared Mokone believes that the charges were brought up as a smear cloak-and-dagger campaign aimed at tainting his reputation.
He said because of his loyalty to the YCLSA and ensuring that its mandate of developing the youth of the Free State, he became a threat to those bent on disrupting the organisation’s development programmes.
He added: “History will absolve those who do good, and I’m sure I will be absolved for the good deeds that I have done for the organisation and the youth of the Free State. I am thankful to those who continued to elect me in my last days.”
Mokone resigned from his position in 2016 saying the organisation was not making enough efforts to clear his name.
He added he would continue to be part of the YCLSA in spirit, and assist the organisation in looking for leadership that will be corrupt free and ensure that the organisation succeeded with its mandate of developing the youth of the country.
