The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in Gauteng will lobby for the election of Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane as ANC Gauteng chairperson, it said in Pretoria on Thursday.

"We want to see a leadership collective that represents renewal of the organisation, ideological balance, geographic spread, [and a] general mix in gender parity," said the ANCYL's Gauteng leader Thabo Kupa.

It would nominate ANCYL Gauteng chairperson Jacob Khawe as the ANC's provincial deputy secretary, he said, adding that young people were "tried and tested" and ready to lead the ANC as additional members of its provincial executive committee.

At the moment, the ANC Gauteng chairperson is former Premier Paul Mashatile, while Mokonyane is deputy chair.

Asked why the ANCYL Gauteng was not supporting Mashatile, Kupa said that it wanted one centre of power.

"The two centres of power are not working. It never worked anywhere. There must be one centre of power to be able to manage effectively all contradictions that constitute our own processes going forward."

Mokonyane was the "one person relevant and the strongest cadre".

"We are confident of her capacity to lead," said Kupa.

He said that the decision to support her was made by the ANCYL Gauteng's provincial executive committee.

The ANC Gauteng would hold its elective conference from May 6 to May 9 in Pretoria.

Kupo could not confirm rumours that Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramokgopa would stand for the position of deputy chair.

This would be known only when the nominations were revealed, he said.

Asked if the ANCYL Gauteng would support Ramokgopa, he replied: "We do not just support a candidate. We've set a vision."

On the issue of charges against ANCYL president Julius Malema, Kupo said that the provincial structure had not been told whether he faced internal disciplinary charges, only that a disciplinary committee would look into the matter.

Malema has been accused of bringing the ANC and the government into disrepute over comments on Zimbabwe, slain Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging leader Eugene Terre'Blanche, and a BBC journalist.

President Jacob Zuma has publicly rebuked him, describing his statements as alien to the ANC's culture. "We respect the head of the ANC," Kupo said.