YCLSA National Committee Statement
31 May 2011
The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) held its 2nd Plenary Session of the 3rd National Congress Committee from the 27th - 29th May 2011, at Cosatu House in Braamfontein. The purpose of the meeting was to look into the state of the organisation, receive reports from Provincial Structures and assess progress in terms of implementation of the Programme of Action as adopted by the National Committee Lekgotla.
The National Committee met immediately after an intensive campaigning by the movement for the local government elections. We note with comfort the role that members of the YCL played in these elections through election structures of the ANC, as volunteers and party agents and through structures of the YCL and its programmes.
We congratulate all members of the YCL who were elected councillors and mayors of the ANC in all municipalities throughout the country. We wish them well in ensuring that they improve the lives of our people through quality service delivery, a fight against corruption and ensuring that they become activist counsellors whose dedication is service to the people. The National Committee called on all counsellors, especially those of the ANC-led Alliance, to stay in the ward were they were elected in order to maintain contact with the people.
We however, note with serious concern the decline in the overall support of the ANC and a slight increase in support of the DA, particularly from black voters. This concern will be raised with the SACP in our bilateral discussions in order for the party to engage the ANC for quicker remedial actions.
Over the last few weeks since our 3rd National Congress, we have witnessed unwarranted attacks on the leadership of the SACP, in particular the General Secretary, by certain individuals within COSATU and two of its major affiliates, NUMSA and SADTU. We are aware that the attack on the SACP General Secretary and the leadership and character of the Party is intended to prepare for a leadership contest at its 13th Congress planned for July 2012.
These individuals have constituted themselves as a faction, posing as revolutionary mouth-piece of the poor, with the intention to take over the SACP and weaken it for their malicious intents.
As the YCL we are determined to challenge this faction and expose it for what it is, a faction hell-bent on discrediting the party programme, to capture the party and ensure that its independence, power and influence are affected. They have questioned the right of the SACP to take decisions independently and yet, they speak of the SACP having lost its independence since our General Secretary was appointed to cabinet.
We are determined to defend the integrity of both the SACP as a vanguard party of the working class and the collective leadership of the SACP. As the YCL we reaffirm the relevance of the SACP programme as adopted by the 12th Congress and the independence of the SACP to take its own decisions, implement and defend them and we call on all disciplined members of the YCL and the SACP to remain united behind this call.
The YCL is disturbed by the continued intransigence of the Presidency to reply to its letters and concerns on the appointments of the NYDA Provincial Advisory Boards. We have consistently, through Head Office and all our Provincial structures, written letters to both the NYDA Chairpersonship and the Presidency to intervene on the appointment of PAB, which purely reflects the ANCYL rather than a structure of Youth Development aimed at accommodating all young people and their structures throughout the country.
The National Committee, in unison, agreed to pursue legal action in an attempt to get the Presidency to act on our letters and concerns. In the light of what happened at WFDY Festival and the decline in confidence on the ability of the NYDA to deal with developmental issues of young people, we have resolved to work with other PYA and community based structures to refocus the work of the NYDA and develop trust and confidence among young people on the work of the NYDA, consistent with its launching intentions.
The National Committee adopted a programme which encompasses June 16 commemoration activities.
Provinces of the YCL will be convening their mini rallies on June 16 commemorations as a build up towards the National Rally in Galeshewe, Kimberly on the 25th June 2011. Our major activities for the year will include the following:
Harry Gwala Memorial Lecture at the University of Kwazulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg;
Meeting of YCLSA University Based branches in July;
Commemoration of the SACP's 90th Anniversary in July
Ruth First Commemoration Games in August;
2nd Annual Jobs for Youth Summit in September;
A National Political School in October, which will follow a massive provincial induction programme;
The National Committee also endorsed the plans for the provinces of Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, Northern Cape and Free State to convene their due provincial Congresses later this year.
Statement issued by YCL National Office, May 31 2011
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
