ANCYL statement on the outcomes of the National Executive Committee Executive
15 August 2023
The National Executive Committee convened a meeting to discuss issues related to organizational development, the political economy, and the international balance of forces. On the 10th of August 2023, the ANCYL held its elections strategy workshop, involving NEC members and external stakeholders. The Elections Strategy Workshop was preceded by an NEC Lekgotla and a Special NEC meeting to consolidate and adopt the 26th NEC Program of Action.
The NEC consolidated a strategy for the upcoming elections to ensure a decisive victory for the ANC. This is consistent with the ANCYL's twin task of mobilizing young people behind the banner of the ANC and to champion the interests of young people. The ANCYL will further be supporting SASCO in all upcoming elections in Institutions of Higher Learning.
The ANCYL acknowledges the significance of elections in the struggle for our people's rights, led by the ANC, which paved the way for political freedom exercised through democratic processes.
We appreciate that democracy is one of the principles in the Freedom Charter and the gains of the National Democratic Revolution, advocating for "people to govern" through elected representation, ensuring no one can claim authority without the people's will.
As we move towards National General Elections, the ANCYL has taken a decision to work tirelessly to ensure that all Provincial Chairpersons of the ANCYL become MEC's in strategic Departments in their Provincial Governments. This will put young people at the center of decision making, they will get into these spaces carrying a mandate to participate in the struggle to create jobs for youth and transformation of society in favor of all young people. The ANCYL wishes to further register that we have not forgotten about the Mayorship in Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality where a young person was resolved upon to take up the position yet it remains not implemented. The ANCYL will be taking up the matter to ensure that justice is done.
The ANCYL NEC reviewed reports from different provinces on the state of the organization in their respective regions. Majority of provinces remain in good health, preparing for the 2024 general election and rallying behind the mandate of "Economic Transformation and Social Change now, not later." We're mobilizing the youth of South Africa to support the ANC in executing the national democratic revolution for the complete emancipation of our masses. The NEC then zoomed in on each province assessing the stability of the Organization.
Upon completing the process of assessing each province, the NEC resolved to disband the PEC Of Mpumalanga to emphasize discipline within ANCYL members. The decision to disband the Mpumalanga ANCYL PEC stems from repeated instances of defiance, including non-submission of reports used to assess the status Of branches, zones, and regional structures through PEC reports. As empowered by the NEC meeting the National Working Committee has sat and appointed a Provincial Task Team which will be communicated to structures of the organization and the ANC in Mpumalanga. The Provincial Task Team is led by comrade Stephens Sekoakoa as Convener and comrade Sibonakaliso Mbatsane as Coordinator.
Furthermore, the ANCYL plans to hold its Anniversary Rally in Ga-Morwe Kameelrivier B Stadium, in Mpumalanga. The organization will be holding a series of build up programs towards the 10th of September which is the date for the Rally, in the areas in and around the main event venue.
Political Economy
The ANCYL NEC expressed concern about ongoing inequality, poverty, unemployment, and the scourge of gender-based violence. We note that South Africa remains the most unequal society in the world, even Within its Southern Africa Customs Unions. Furthermore, the NEC is disheartened by the continuous inability of the South African economy to create jobs, with an anticipated unemployment rate of 38% in the coming weeks, disproportionately impacting the youth, as over 70% of South African youth are unemployed.
The ANCYL further considered the outcry of society on the illegal foreigners in our country who are drug lords and kingpins that have found warm spaces in our communities and certain parts of towns that have become unsafe. At the center of our concerns is the growing producing of counterfeit goods, certain sections in towns that are known drug hubs as well as economic activity that is not registered and therefore does not contribute to the South African Revenue Services.
The ANCYL NEC is aggrieved by the non-performance of some ministers in the President's Cabinet and calls for stricter monitoring of their performance, as it directly reflects the President's govemance legacy since 2017. We urge the Ministers to prioritize the issue of political economy, not finding comfort in the rising unemployment, poverty, and inequality disparities.
Furthermore, the NEC committed itself to engaging the various ministers deployed by our ANC government, starting with Ministers in the economic cluster, to discuss the ideas the ANCYL has on how jobs for young people can be created.
On Privatization of the State-owned enterprises (SOEs)
The NEC discussed and reflected on the State of our State-Owned Enterprises, the NEC is of the view that more must be done to improve the performance and internal capacity of our SOES. The NEC is of the view that the SOEs are part of the instruments of development available to the dernocratic State to improve the socio-economic conditions of our people and therefore handing them over to private hands with the sole purpose of profit maximization is counter revolutionary.
It is our considered view that the Privatization of the State-Owned Enterprises is not a solution to resolving the problems of load-shedding and the challenges at Transnet. We firmly believe that State-owned entities must serve as a strategic asset of the state to boost the economy and should be utilized to improve people's lives with a business self-sustainability model.
The Demands of the ANCYL as discussed in the 26th National Congress:
The NEC further reiterated its commitment to mobilizing society and all progressive forces across the length and breadth of our country behind its 6 demands as resolved by the 26th National Congress of:
- Nationalization of mines and strategic heights of our economy
- Formation of a state bank focusing on funneling PIC funds, government work pensions, and all transactions to the state bank
- Expropriation of land without compensation for the industrialization of South Africa, Agricultural use and economic activities as well as human settlement.
- Beneficiation of mineral resources for local content, allowing only 30% of raw minerals to be exported, while 70% remain in South Africa as finished products.
-Nationalization of the Reserve Bank to shift its focus away from over-obsession with increasing interest rates as a tool to curb inflation.
Building state capacity for the developmental state.
Furthermore, the ANCYL plans to engage in strategic stakeholder engagements with the business community, including the Black Business Council (BBC), Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), South Africa National Taxi Council (SANTACO), and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA). We believe that these engagements will reinforce our urgent call for economic freedom and form a tactical alliance to advance the cause of the total liberation of the youth in South Africa.
Issued by the Mntuwoxolo Ngudle, ANCYL National Spokesperson, 15 August 2023
