YOUTH LEAGUE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Cde Naledi Pandor-Minister of Education
Private Bag X603
PRETORIA
0001

12 February 2009

RE: UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY FOR THE REMARKS MADE AT THE TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MASS MEETING.

Dear Comrade Pandor

On the 11th of February 2009, the African National Congress Youth League and other Progressive Youth Alliance formations visited the Tshwane University of Technology to pledge solidarity with the striking workers and students. We visited TUT because we were strongly convinced that whatever are the disputes for the strike, it could never be justifiable that it lasted for more than 14 important days in the institution's calendar. We were further concerned that many students had to evicted from the institution, whilst some had not even finalized their registration process.

You are most probably aware that while I was speaking on behalf of the ANC YL in solidarity with workers and students at the Tshwane University of Technology, I made uncalled for remarks about you, which were widely captured by the media. I acknowledge that the remarks I made against you were uncalled for and might have disappointed and hurt you.

I write this letter to unconditionally apologise for those remarks. The ANC YL and I personally hold you in high regard both as a cadre of the African National Congress, Mother and Minister of Education. The ANC YL has previously expressed appreciation for the fact that you did not join the angry people who resigned from Cabinet after the recalling of former President Thabo Mbeki. You remained in the ANC and continued to serve the people of South Africa as Minister of Education. Such decisions and steadfastness taught us a great lesson that in a democracy, once decisions are taken, the right to differ declines into insignificance, until such time where there is space for review. You have in many occasions been a great teacher to us, and always expressed your honest opinions and views, even when they did not enjoy popular support.

Once again, we-assert our most sincere and unconditional apology to you and the African National Congress for what we accept to have been uncalled for remarks. We will continue to interact with your office on the many programmes we previously agreed upon and on the resolution of the TUT challenges, which we strongly believe requires a decisive intervention.

Please be informed that we will alert the African National Congress leadership and membership that we have unconditionally apologised for the remarks, whilst await your response.

Kind Regards,

Julius Malema, ANC YL President

CC: Cde Gwede Mantashe, Secretary General-African National Congress
54 Sauer Street
Chief Albert Luthuli House
Johannesburg
2000

Issued by the ANC Youth League, February 12 2009

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