ANC YOUTH LEAGUE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LEKGOTLA STATEMENT:

Sunday, 23 January 2011

The ANC Youth League came to conclusion of the National Executive Committee Lekgotla today, the 23rd of January 2011. The NEC Lekgotla brought regional and provincial leaders of the ANC Youth League and the progressive youth alliance formations to discuss our political programme towards the 24th National Congress in 2011. The Lekgotla also made reflections on local government elections programme of the ANCYL.

The Lekgotla was addressed by ANC Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and former President ANC YL President, Head of Organising and Campaigns Cde Fikile Mbalula. The inputs of both Comrades Kgalema Motlanthe and Fikile Mbalula were very empowering and inspirational. The NEC Lekgotla acknowledged after their inputs that the ANC has sound and visionary leadership, which will forever inspire our struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime.

The NEC Lekgotla was unanimous in the observation that the year 2010 was a very successful year for the ANC Youth League with regards to intensification of the political programme of economic freedom in our lifetime and bringing stability in the organisation. The ANC Youth League is organisationally and politically stable with an ability to profoundly influence the ANC and South Africa's political discourse. In 2010, the ANC Youth League held its 1st ever National General Council and hosted the World Festival of Youth and Students, which brought thousands of delegates from more than 100 countries.

Majority of the issues that came out of the ANC Youth League National General Council culminated into concrete resolutions and programmes of the ANC and government. Our call for Nationalisation of Mines is firmly on the programme of the ANC and research being conducted by the ANC on how best does South Africa take ownership and control of Mines and mineral resources beneath the soil. Our campaign on Provision of Free Sanitary Towels is now officially taken by the ANC.

The ANC Youth League also appreciates the gradual introduction of free education for the poor until undergraduate level in line the ANC 52nd Conference resolution on education. On Education, the January 8 Statement commits to provision of free education for NSFAS-dependent students in their final year, if these students successfully complete their studies. The January 8 Statement further announced that all needy students in Further Education and Training Colleges who are in need will be exempted from paying fees, starting from 2011. We welcome these interventions and hope that other measures will be introduced to ensure that free education is provided until undergraduate level for all academically deserving, yet poor students at all levels.

The ANC Youth League is very inspired that as many young people as possible have responded to our call that they should love education. The long queues in Universities and Universities of Technology is a confirmation that many young people want to go to school and acquire knowledge and skills. We call on government to massively invest in the expansion of Universities and FET Colleges to accommodate as many young people as possible.

The NEC Lekgotla also adopted a concrete programme towards the Local Government Elections. The ANC Youth League is more than ready to mobilise all young people to vote for the ANC, because it is the only organisation that is capable of leading our communities and society towards sustainable livelihoods. From this NEC Lekgotla, our battle cry is that "Every Youth League Member... A Volunteer and Organiser for Total ANC Victory". The ANC Youth League will pay specific attention to the Western Cape and very confident and certain of victory, particularly in the City of Cape Town.

The ANC Youth League discussed the New Growth Path and identified certain gaps and limitations that define the programme. As agreed in the ANC, we will make our inputs into the Growth Path and propose interventions that will sustainably address the massive unemployment and poverty challenges. The objective of creating 5 million jobs by 2020 is not adequate because that translates to 500 000 jobs per year until 2020, which will leave many South Africans, particularly youth unemployed for a very long time.

A New Growth Path in South Africa should necessarily speak to the transfer of wealth from the minority to the majority. We will not be able to build new industries and create sustainable jobs unless the State is in control and ownership of key sectors of the economy. Our call for Nationalisation of Mines and realisation of all Freedom Charter clauses remains on the agenda and will be the solution because the State ownership and control will spur industrialisation by making industrial inputs more accessible for labour absorptive industrialisation. The need to create jobs in South Africa should never undermine the decent work agenda. Those who think that we will neglect the decent work agenda should think again because the ANC Youth League will never agree to casualisation of Labour and two-tier labour systems that undermines our people.

On the last day of the Lekgotla, we received a presentation by the Minister of health of the level and extent of HIV/AIDS infections in South Africa. The ANC Youth League is now more determined and agitated to intensify our fight against HIV/AIDS. We support the campaign on circumcision of all males in South Africa because it is scientifically proven that circumcision can contribute to the reduction of HIV infections in the country. Our energy to strengthen our campaign on healthy life-styles has been sharpened.

24th National Congress.

The National Congress of the ANC Youth League will happen between the 16th and 19th of June 2011 in Gauteng Province. All our branches, regions and provinces will between now and June, undergo all the political and organisational process towards the National Congress. The 24th National Congress of the ANC Youth League will be a successful meeting of the ANC Youth league, whose outcomes will include a programme of action on economic freedom in our lifetime. We have declared ourselves Economic Freedom Fighters and will not rest until all our objectives are realised. Victory is certain!

Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, January 23 2011

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