Real economic redistribution not labour market flexibility is needed
Statement of the African National Congress Youth League on the recently released Labour Force Survey results for Quarter 1: 2012
The ANC Youth League has noted with grave concern the results of the Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2012. According to Stats SA, the publishers of the research, unemployment in South Africa has risen to in excess of 25% in the first quarter of this year, increasing from 23,9% in Quarter 4 of 2011. The ANC January 8 Statement delivered at the Centenary Rally identifies that "principally, Africans, women and youth continue to carry the disproportionate burden of these challenges" refering to unemployment, poverty and inequality.
While the outcomes themselves are alarming, the ANC Youth League is even more concerned about the response of government to the issue of economically downtrodden, unemployed and unemployable youth. We continue to assert that our collective economic prosperity remains anchored in the fulfilment of all Freedom Charter objectives as asserted by our people in 1955, particularly the transfer of the wealth to the ownership of the people as a whole.
In October 2011, the ANC Youth League presented before the seats of political and economic power, the Union Building, JSE Securities Exchange and the Chamber of Mines, demands which sought to reverse the continuing escalation of youth hopelessness and despair arising from poverty, unemployment and inequality. In particular we spoke of the need for:
- Nationalisation of strategic sectors and the commanding heights of the economy to realise the Freedom Charter`s clarion call that the people shall share in the country`s wealth. As per the dictates of the Freedom Charter such strategic sectors must include "the mineral wealth beneath the soil, the Banks and monopoly industry". The state must also have greater ownership and control SASOL, Arcelor-Mittal, the Cement Industry, and creation of a reliable State Oil company.
- Local beneficiation and industrialisation of a minimum of 60% of the minerals extracted from beneath South Africa`s soil. The beneficiation should happen in the communities where Mining happens
- Establishment of a State Bank, which will have direct relationship with the Reserve Bank and used to finance rural development and industrialisation, mortgage and vehicle finance and financing of small and medium enterprises and businesses.
- Amendment of section 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to make provision for the expropriation without compensation of property, particularly land, for equitable redistribution in the public interest and for public purpose
- Urgent enactment of a policy framework and programme which will focus on the food economy and empowerment of communities to produce food for themselves and food for their immediate schools, hospitals, prisons and other public and private institutions that consume food.