ANCYL birthday wishes to Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe

19 July 2012

The ANC Youth League wishes President Kgalema Motlanthe a joyous and productive birthday. Comrade Motlanthe is a politically, organizationally and ideologically sound leader of the ANC and a committed servant of the people. A capable cadre who was sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island, he has served in the underground structures of the ANC and the workers' movement, all of which were a testament of his unwavering willingness to serve and take up challenges confronting our people at all times.

He is also principled leader of the ANC with a strong Christian upbringing as in the order of glorious Presidents of the ANC such Chief Albert Luthuli and Reverend John Langalibalele Dube.

Through Comrade Motlanthe we have been reminded about the centrality and importance of education, self-sacrifice and revolutionary theory in practice for the fundamental transformation of society.

He never misses an opportunity to remind us that it is our obligation, as young people, to constantly question and fearlessly challenge the status quo for indeed it is our future that the ANC today has a responsibility of crafting. He is also not one to sacrifice principle at the altar of expediency and as the ANC Youth League we have had first-hand experience of his humility and leadership, when recently in Limpopo, he called us to order for singing about him, not turning a blind eye to instances where the traditions, practices and guidelines of the organisation are violated, whether such violation is in his favour or not.

Undoubtedly, Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe is the future of the ANC and South Africa. As we wish him health and happiness for years to come, we are confident that the very values of principle, integrity and humility that define him will, when the time comes in the next few months, guide him in the execution of the mandate that the overwhelming majority of ANC members will bestow upon him to drive the charge for the realisation of the aspirations of the people as articulated in the Freedom Charter.

Statement issued by the ANC Youth League, July 19 2012

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