Collen Malatji Says ANC Pensioners Are Killing the Party Daily, Calls for Youth to Take Over

• African National Congress Youth League president Collen Malatji publicly called on older ANC leaders to retire
• Malatji directed his criticism at ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe following a walkout at the COSATU 15th National Congress
• South Africans took to social media to weigh in on Malatji's appeal, sharing divided reactions to it

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

EASTERN CAPE — African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Malatji has issued a sharp warning to veteran ANC politicians, declaring that older members of the party are actively damaging it and should step down to allow younger leaders to take over.

Malatji made the remarks during a campaign trail in the Eastern Cape, directing pointed criticism at ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe. His comments followed Mantashe's walkout from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) 15th National Congress in Kempton Park on Monday, 12 October, after a disagreement over the order of speakers.

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"Pensioners are killing the ANC every day. There is one pensioner yesterday who walked out of a COSATU conference. A conference of workers where we must be united," Malatji said.

Malatji targets Mantashe's walkout

While criticising Mantashe's conduct at the COSATU congress, Malatji acknowledged the chairperson's announced intention not to seek re-election, framing the retirement of older leaders as an opening for youth leadership within the party.

"At least that pensioner, unlike other pensioners, he spoke out that he is retiring; he's coming back here at Qala to take care of grandkids. The sooner he retires with his friends, the better. So that we take over the ANC and correct it," Malatji said.

Malatji escalated his call to action, urging young ANC members to take decisive steps if older leaders chose not to exit voluntarily. He closed his address by invoking the party's historical resilience, insisting that the legacy of Oliver Tambo was strong enough to outlast the current generation of older leaders.

South Africans divided by Malatji's comments

Social media users were divided on the ANCYL president's stance, with some supporting his position and others questioning whether the youth league had done enough to grow the party's voter base among younger South Africans.

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Jabu Sukazi wrote:

"Very good point, except that the youth is failing to bring young voters. Without the vote of the older generation, the organisation will fall."

Sello Kapoko commented:

"I'm not an ANC fan, but he is absolutely right."

Ernest Malebe added:

"The youth league is failing to bring in more voters."

Elvin Henry Coulter said:

"The youth are hungry. They want to feed at the trough, but it's nearly empty."

Rudwell Shayi stated:

"We said that a long time ago. Maybe 20 years now."

Other stories about Malatji

Briefly News reported that Malatji is no stranger to making comments that spark interaction.

• In January 2025, he joked that Mbuyiseni Ndlozi was invited to join the ANC after the Economic Freedom Fighters leader.
• He also said that Solly Mapaila should join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party if he was unhappy with the ANC.
• In September 2025, he said that the Youth League demanded that no foreigner own spaza shops.

Source: Briefly News