ANC YOUTH LEAGUE APPLAUDS THE SUPPORT FOR THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM MASS ACTION FROM SAMWU, SASCO AND THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY:
The ANC Youth League applauds and appreciates the support for the Economic Freedom Youth Mass Action from the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), the South African Students' Congress (SASCO) and thousands of young people from across South Africa, Africa and the world.
Since the declaration of the official days of action, the ANC Youth League has received massive feedback and interests to participate from so many young South African via phone enquiries, emails, facebook, twitter and direct interaction with our branch, regional, and provincial structures.
In the statement of support, SAMWU correctly said, "The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) supports the march to take place this week by the ANCYL, to radically transform our economy, to serve the majority and not the minority. Both SAMWU and our Federation COSATU have resolutions of this nature; we strongly believe that the transformation of the country's economic trajectory is necessary. We will support all initiatives of this nature, especially if it is a campaign of one of our Alliance Structures".
Most importantly, SAMWU locates their support in the Freedom Charter by stating that "As the Freedom Charter of 1955 said; all commanding heights of the economy must be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole. We will continue to use the Freedom Charter to inform all our campaigns and initiatives".
In declaring their support for the mass action, SASCO says, "SASCO supports these marches as they seek to propel young people into action and to make young working class people the main drivers of their destiny. The bulk of the youth in this country are condemned to living a life of squalor and destitution in our townships, informal settlements and the rural areas. SASCO appeals to all the other formations of the Alliance to support these marches.
The ANC has a rich history of mass struggle and fully appreciates that the will of the people must be expressed not only through voting but also through popular protest. The same mass struggle that crippled apartheid collaborating mining capital and land barons is the same mass struggle that is required to buttress the ANC in implementing the Freedom Charter".
These messages of support and many messages the ANC Youth League receives from progressive formations across South Africa, African continent, the world, veterans of progressive struggles, progressive intellectuals, elderly people, CONTRALESA, Non-governmental and community based organisations are a great inspiration and confirmation that we are leading the correct struggles.
The struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime and the Economic Freedom Demands that the ANC YL will present to the Chamber of Mines, JSE and Union Buildings on Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th of October are genuine demands that will lead to radical transformation of the economy and betterment of people's life.
The Economic Freedom Mass Action is going ahead in the 27th and 28th of October 2011 from Bayers Naude Square in Johannesburg at 10H00, to the Chamber of Mines, and to the JSE and culminates in the Union Buildings where a memoranda of demands will be handed over to the authorities. It is now or never! Victory is certain!
Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, October 25 2011
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