ANC Youth League Press Statement 15 May 2007

 

 

Summary of ANCYL Policy Dialogue

 

 

The ANC Youth League policy dialogue held recently, was a culmination of consultative meetings held in various provinces. There were presentations followed by robust and frank discussions on all ANC policy documents as prepared for Policy Conference, and thereafter the Policy Dialogue adopted the following resolutions:

 

On the Strategy and Tactics

 

The present draft does not make a clear analysis of the evolution of the strategy and tactics with regards to the role of the ANC, and as such it makes fundamental distortions, through omission, on the ideological disposition of the ANC. The document is very quiet about the role of monopoly capital which has always been characterized as the enemy of the revolution. There is an over -exaggeration of the US’s military power that is characterized as a ‘hyper power’ relative to all other powers, and makes a wrong assumption that imperialism has triumphed. In this the document ignores the critical power balance reconfiguration as exemplified by the continued economic and military growth of China. It would therefore be misleading that our foreign policy must be premised on an analysis that suggests we are helpless against an almighty US dictatorship.

 

The documents emphasizes the role of government on the national democratic revolution as the main driver for change, and therefore misrepresent and undermine the centrality of the ANC as the leader of the NDR and the role of society at large in bringing social change.

 

On the Alliance

 

In line with the theme of the policy dialogue “placing the ANC at the center of social transformation”, the role of SANCO as a civic organization was discussed with its historic and contemporary role vis-à-vis the alliance. There was acknowledgement that SANCO played a critical role in the same sense as the UDF and SAYCO did because then the ANC was banned, but that now a mass based ANC cannot afford to have its contact with the masses and its leadership of their daily struggles to be mediated through another movement or SANCO for that matter. In the light of our democratic breakthrough and the social, political and economic challenges we face as society, the ANC must deal with civic issues directly and therefore the role of SANCO becomes redundant, and therefore resolved that SANCO should never be considered as part of the alliance.

 

On organizational re-design

 

There has been temptation by government to undermine the centrality of the ANC as the center of power both in terms of policy formulation and implementation. This has with time eroded the authority of the revolutionary party in guiding government programs, thinking and policy paradigm.

 

The dialogue therefore resolved, unanimously, to re-affirm its rejection of the notion characterized as “two centers of power”, and resolved that we should rather maintain the status quo wherein the President of the ANC will be the President of our country.

With regards to the appointment of Premiers and Mayor’s, the dialogue resolved that, the ANC NWC should be allowed to deploy Premiers and Mayors. Generally, it was resolved that without micro-managing government, the ANC must be central in deploying certain comrades in certain key organs of transformation that would help facilitate the implementation of our transformation programme.

 

On Electoral system

 

South Africa’s legal definition of consent is sixteen, including the definition of child labour, and therefore young people from this age should be allowed to decide about the kind of society they want including important political activism. The ANCYL Policy Dialogue therefore resolved that the voting age must be lowered to sixteen starting with the 2009 National General Elections.

 

On transformation of the judiciary

 

The judiciary remains the most untransformed segment of apartheid institutions, and yet it is expected to play a critical role in the democratic society. Young law graduates must be assisted to ensure we have capacity in the administration of justice through programmes that would fast-track getting personnel in this regards. The constitution of the republic advocates for a single police force in the country. We therefore need to move with speed to integrate the many law enforcements agencies under one command, including the scorpions. It was also resolved that the intelligence and the prosecution functions of the NPA must be infused in the relevant intelligence agencies and judiciary, respectively.

 

On Economic transformation

 

We need a state that is strong and can intervene in breaking the apartheid structures of economic production and identify the champion of growth which can have a capacity to absorb the unskilled and skilled in the economy whilst ensuring diversification of the economy. The developmental state must sub-ordinate the programs of the private sector into the national goals and agenda for the benefit of the majority. The BBBEE must be able to assist to achieve a de-racialised economy.

 

Youth Development

 

The ANC Youth League is working hard to ensure that we succeed in implementing the agreements we have had with Minister Pahad and ensure that the Policy Conference further the aims of youth development. The ANCYL is concerned about all issues raised in the ANC Policy Document beyond issues of direct youth concerns and will take this Policy Conference as opportunity to put the ANC at the center of all our transformation programmes in government, society and the private sector.

 

ON PROGRAMME AND ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE RECENT PAST

 

On the selection of the National Rugby Squad

 

Since unification and re-admission into the international community of sport in 1992, we have been talking about the lack of transformation in rugby. We appeal to both the management and the coach to consider talent and performance when selecting a team and we do not agree that black players are generally incapable to belong to the national squad. Many players of colour with undisputable record of performance on the field have been left out for some unscrupulous reasons. In all the BOK games henceforth and on the field, there must not be less than seven players of colour. In many cases, black player’s as was the case in the last cricket world cup, are just added into the squad but never selected to play when the actual games take place. We view this as perpetuation of racism and we condemn it.

On the ongoing dispute between government and the public service unions

 

The ANC YL re-iterates its call for all parties involved to go back to the negotiation chamber, and commit themselves to find an amicable solution through dialogue. The consequence of an industrial action by public service unions are too ghastly to contemplate and we believe they can still be averted. However, we fully support the union in their cause for fair salaries and all the pertinent issues they are raising with government.

 

June Youth Month

 

The ANCYL 2007 June youth month programme will be implemented under the theme ‘Youth Access to skills for the creation of decent jobs’ which emphasise the provision of skills and creation of permanent and decent jobs. We will also heighten our campaign on the Jobs for youth programme through engagement with captains of industry which will culminate into a Day of Action of the 6th of June 2007. The National Youth Day commemoration rally will be held in the Free State province.

 

Euro-Africa Dialogue

 

The ANC Youth League will be hosting a Youth African Dialogue, in preparations for the Euro –Africa Dialogue, a heads of State meeting that will be held in December in Lisbon. Various youth organizations will be attending the meeting from Friday up to Sunday in Johannesburg at Cedar Park.

 

On the allegations of the ANC Deputy President assassination plot

 

The ANC YL considers the recent reports of an assassination plot against the ANC Deputy President, Cde Jacob Zuma, as a threat to our democracy.

 

The same allegations were made against the late Cde Chris Hani, before his assassination in 1993, and therefore such allegations whenever they are made should be treated with seriousness and the urgency they deserve.

 

The assassination plot on the life of the ANC Deputy President has been making rounds for sometime now, and we need to reveal the people and their agenda behind this act of cowardice.

 

We call on the police and other relevant law enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to get to the source of this matter.

 

Cde Jacob Zuma is the leader of the ANC, and has been part of our movement as a loyal member for a long time, and led our democratic forces of our people to defeat the Apartheid regime. Through his commitment and selfless sacrifices, he has become an embodiment and the symbol of hope to millions of South Africans; the indigent and marginalized. It is his credential that makes him vulnerable to those who are opposed to democracy, who then resort to unconventional means to eliminate those who do not subscribe to their views. They fear democracy, dialogue and persuasion, because they know their agenda represents backwardness, and will nonetheless be defeated by the masses of our people.

More information contact

Zizi Kodwa @ 082 3304 920

 

From: http://www.anc.org.za/youth/ (News, Press Statements)

 

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