ANC Youth League Western Cape welcomes re-instatement of Andile Lili and Loyiso Nkohla as fully-fledged ANC members

24 March 2014

The ANC Youth League Western Cape Provincial Task Team welcomes the decision by the ANC Western Cape's Provincial Disciplinary Committee to re-instate Andile Lili and Loyiso Nkohla as fully-fledged members of the ANC.

Andile Lili was suspended by the ANC in the Dullah Omar (Cape Metro) region with Loyiso Nkohla having been expelled following their protests against the undignified sanitation forced upon our people by the uncaring DA governments in the City of Cape Town and Western Cape.

In sacrificing to take up the struggles of the poorest of the poor and to lead in these struggles, our fellow young lions have indeed given practical expression to the spirit of grounded activism in the ANC Youth League. We encourage these fearless fighters to continue placing the ANC Youth League at the centre of community struggles and to fully participate in all activities of the League. 

This decision confirms our long-held view that we need everyone in our movement to stand together and champion the struggles of our people, especially in informal settlement communities and to liberate the Western Cape from the uncaring and oppressive DA who treats our people like second-class citizens. 

The ANC Youth League hopes that the errors on the part of the Regional ANC which resulted in these comrades being suspended and expelled in the first place will never be repeated again.

It is our long-held view that instead of attacking and isolating brave young activists of our movement, we must commend and encourage them.

These comrades are indeed an inspiration to all of us who strive for justice and liberation from all forms of oppression. They put their heads on the line to take up the struggles of the poor and most vulnerable whilst many of us have had the luxury of sitting in the comfort of our homes and offices.

It is the brave and fearless stance by these and other comrades that have highlighted the plight faced by the poor and vulnerable. These struggles have resulted in Chapter Nine institutions, religious leaders and civil society formations recognising that there is indeed a serious problem that Government must address as a matter of urgency.

The Provincial ANC's decision indicates that at all times the ANC as an organisation is on the side of the poor and most vulnerable masses.

The ANC Youth League expresses its gratitude to all those senior leaders of the ANC, its leagues and alliance structures who supported us when we defended these comrades in the structures of the ANC and took part in some of the campaigns which they led. We appreciate the encouragement and guidance we received and we have soldiered on when we were being criticised for our stance on the struggles of the poor. 

We are always prepared to be guided and corrected as the Youth League of the ANC. Equally so we will continue to sharply raise our difference of opinion with the ANC within the structures of the organisation in a disciplined fashion.

Deriving from the ANC's responsibility to lead all motive forces of change, the ANC Youth League in the Western Cape will continue to encourage its members, supporters and volunteers to play a leading role in civil society sites of struggle on the ground. We cannot be detached from the daily struggles of our people. If we were to be detached then the need for our very existence will diminish. 

The ANC's 2012 National Conference resolved that the character and strength of the ANC must continue to reside in and derive from its mass base. It is our mass base that is subjected to inferior services by the uncaring government of the DA and who stands up against this injustice through peaceful protest.

Statement issued by Muhammad Khalid Sayed, ANCYL Western Cape Convenor, March 25 2014

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