ANC YOUTH LEAGUE SPECIAL NATIONAL EXECUTIVE STATEMENT FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE

05 March 2012

The ANC Youth League held its Special National Executive Committee on the 4th of March 2012 at the Reef Hotel in Johannesburg. The NEC expressed dismay over the sanctions handed over to ANC YL leadership by the ANC National Disciplinary Committee. The ANC Youth League NEC once again confirmed that the statements and articulations, which the President of the ANC Youth League is convicted for is the statement of the ANC Youth League emanating from the 24th National Congress and the National Executive Committee which concluded on the 31st of July 2011.

The Special NEC further confirmed that the statement which the Secretary General is convicted for is also a statement of the ANC Youth League, released to the media through the normal channels of the ANC Youth League.

We further confirm that the statement which the Spokesperson of the ANC Youth League is convicted for is a statement of the ANC Youth League and that the Spokesperson's name was included on the statement as a contact person. On the other issue affecting the Spokesperson, the Special NEC expressed dismay over the fact that the NDC re-affirmed its earlier sanction of Comrade Floyd Shivambu, despite the fact that the NDC accepted that he showed remorse and profusely apologised for the incident he was charged for and made a plea to be moulded into a better Spokesperson by the ANC.

This shows that there is an ulterior motive on the sanction given to Cde Floyd Shivambu, because he did not only show remorse, but he is a first time offender who since the incident has displayed that he has reformed.

In view of all these realities, the NEC stands by the Lekgotla resolution that the leadership of the ANC Youth League as elected by the 24th National Congress of the ANC Youth League will never be removed by any process that does not include the structures and membership of the ANC Youth League.

It is only the internal process of the ANC Youth League that can decide to elect or un-elect leadership of the ANC Youth League. The ANC Youth League will never agree that its leadership be subjected to unfair and unjust treatment or banished for narrow political purposes. In this regard, the leadership of the ANC Youth League as elected by the 24th National Congress of the ANC Youth League remains in office as elected members of the ANC YL National Executive Committee of the ANC Youth League.

It is our strong conviction that it must never be easy to remove an elected President of the ANC Youth League, particularly a President who was elected uncontested by the membership of the ANC Youth League.

We believe that the ANC carries an obligation to educate and guide the ANC Youth League on all critical policy issues and not persecute the leadership for articulating the policy positions of the ANC Youth League. The leadership of the ANC Youth League stands guilty of articulating policy positions that the ANC has the power to disapprove. The reality of the situation is that the charges brought against the leadership of the ANC Youth League are based on political developments and realities and it is only a political discussion and solution that can bring the differences to rest.

The leadership of the ANC YOUTH LEAGUE will within the 14 days appeal the sentence of the NDC. We will plead with the ANC National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals to appreciate that the sanctions meted out on the leadership is not only unfair, but not in keeping with the true values. All actions and practices of the charged and sanctioned members of the ANC Youth League will be with the approval of the leadership collective.

The ANC YL Economic Freedom rallies, lectures and mass meetings will continue over the coming weeks, because the struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime is going ahead. The ANC YL will support the mass action by COSATU, because the call for the banning of labour brokers in our 24th National Congress resolution and we believe that roads are public goods and should be paid for by the State, not daily users. We call on all young people and South Africans to join the march.

The ANC Youth League will continue to engage the leadership and structures of the ANC in the course to find long lasting political solution to all problems confronting the National Liberation Movement. We believe that at the end of the day, what binds the leadership of the ANC and ANC Youth League together is the need to achieve the aims of the Freedom Charter. We will continue to mobilise all branches and structures of the ANC to rally behind the call for nationalisation of mines and expropriation of land without compensation.

Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, March 5 2012

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