Dogen Ndove was elected the new chairperson of the ANC Youth League at the fourth regional conference that was held at the Makhado Multi-Purpose Centre in the Dzanani area last Sunday.

The conference had to be postponed for two consecutive times before it was actually staged. The former leadership committee of the youth league was also disbanded before the conference.

The 167 delegates who attended the conference comprised mainly of young people from the four local municipalities in Vhembe, namely the Makhado, Thulamela, Mutale and Musina areas.

The newly elected deputy-chairperson for the Youth League is Violet Mlanzi. Madadzhe Reuben Madadzhe was elected as the secretary, while Mbavhalelo Takalani was elected as his dep-uty. Rudzani Kharidzha was elected the new treasurer.

In his address during the conference, Ndove said that he would work hard to ensure that there was unity among the youth in the region. “I also want to see young people getting bursaries and furthering their studies. Education is very important,” he said.

He said his appointment as the chairperson served the interests of young people. “I don´t want to see the youth league divided. We must work as a collective,” said Ndove.

Ndove was contesting for the position of chairperson against the former South African Student Congress chairperson, Rudzani Ludere, who was also the president of the SRA at the University of Venda,. Ndove secured 93 of the votes against the 60 of Ludere.

Ndovhe is the current secretary of the Shikari Murogolwe branch of the ANC. In 1997, Ndovhe became branch secretary of Majosi ANC branch for two consecutive times. He was also a deputy-chairperson of the Mulima Hlanganani sub-region of the ANC Youth League in 1997. In 2006, Ndove became the deputy chairperson of the Youth League in Vhembe. He is the chairperson of the Vhembe Youth Council. He recently received his diploma in Mining Impact and Post Rehabilitation from the University of Venda.