ANC YL MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE PIETERMARITZBURG HIGH COURT JUDGMENT ON THE APPLICATION BY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA
The African National Congress Youth League welcomes the judgment of the Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson delivered on Friday the 12th of September 2008. The judgment has confirmed our observation that the case against the President of the ANC, Jacob Zuma is a political case, intended at preventing him from being President of the Republic of South Africa.
We are also aware that there are others including State President, Thabo Mbeki who have already declared their intentions to challenge the watershed ruling by Judge Nicholson, We call on them to do the most honourable thing: retreat and respect the rule of law befitting of noble citizens.
Friday's judgment has finally removed the albatross that has been on the public's neck for the last eight years. This matter like the divisive Apartheid must now be laid to rest and anybody who seeks to reopen it will only be viewed as public enemy no 1 with little or no interest of the country at heart.
In his ruling Judge Nicholson also echoed, the ANCYL's repeated views that the case against President Zuma was nothing more than political gymnastics whose sole purpose was to humiliate and frustrate our President's legitimate ascendancy to the Presidency of South Africa. In this regard the 12th of September 2008 epitomises Polokwane 2 and remains a historic day in the political calendar of our glorious movement, the African National Congress.
We further reaffirm with renewed vigour and energy, our NEC position to have Thabo Mbeki removed as President of the Republic of South Africa. We remain convinced that Mbeki's hold on the highest Office in the land can only serve to deepen wounds to both the ANC as the ruling party and the Government at large. A critical review of his conduct towards and post the Polokwane 52nd National Conference of the ANC as well his attitude towards the sitting President of the ANC is a religious confirmation that Mbeki's time to lead our people has ceased to be.
On the same token, we are leaving no stone unturned, to ensure that Thabo Mbeki leaves, we are already in consensus with the broader Progressive Youth Alliance on this subject. We have also lobbied both the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA).
AWe have approached individual members of the ANC National Executive Committee to ensure that the removal of Thabo Mbeki becomes an ANC NEC resolution. In our last meeting of the ANCYL National Working Committee (NWC) and the ANC Officials, this matter came top on the agenda, with repeated calls on our part for Mbeki to go and go now.
The Judgement by Nicholson teaches us lessons both politically and legally that those who dig graves for others finally fall into those graves themselves and further that the legs of subversion are short.
Coming out of a very long and trying history, no one individual or individuals can stall our liberty. In this regard we call upon on the ANC to bring all the individuals listed in the judgement before a disciplinary committee, and explain why they can't be fired from the organisation. This organisational path is best suited to process matters relating to conducts that amount to bringing the organisation into disrepute.
As we intensify the work of our elections machinery, we are becoming even more confident daily that the road to union buildings as led by Zuma is becoming clearer and drawing closer by the hour. We call upon all young people to the front-line to register and vote for the ANC in the coming general elections.
Statement issued by the African National Congress Youth League September 16 2008
