ANC Youth League KZN on media reports

12 August 2016

The African National Congress Youth League in KwaZulu Natal distances itself from media reports which indicate the Youth League wants a young person to be elected as President of the ANC in 2017.

The Youth League through it's Provincial Secretary sought to communicate the decisions of the PEC meeting held last Friday in uLundi in a media briefing held at its office yesterday, as part of the decisions taken was a decision to reaffirm the call made by the ANCYL national executive in June calling for a female President of the ANC. The Youth League in support of this decision by the NEC went on to add that in the total composition of the NEC to take our movement forward, younger leaders and young people must be included.

It is the firm view of the Youth League that reports in the media today are a deliberate attempt at painting a picture of an organization at war with itself. The intention is to feed the already formulated narrative that the African National Congress is in complete chaos and that even the Youth League wants a generational take over. Nothing could be further from the truth, the Youth League believes in a generational mix to reflect both an appreciation for institutional memory and the reality that the future belongs to young people.

The ANCYL is aware of processes of the ANC and as such will not be drawn into a succession debate at this point. When the time is right the Youth League will support the decision of the NEC to lobby for a female president to lead a collective which shall feature prominently younger leaders of the ANC.

The ANCYL continues its twin task of mobilizing young people behind the vision and mission of the ANC whilst championing their interests.

Issued by Thanduxolo Sabelo, Provincial Secretary, ANC Youth League KZN, 12 August 2016