ANCYL CONDEMNS ACTIONS OF VIOLENCE AND RACIAL INTOLERANCE OF UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT, WHILST LACK OF TRANSFORMATION IS AT THE HEART OF THE RACIST INCIDENCES

 The ANCYL notes with disgust the recent actions of violence and arson that ensued at the North West University, Mahikeng campus and urges for cool heads . These actions are inconsistent with the ideals of a democratic state and undermine the efforts of government in addressing issues of funding for both "access to learning and students’ accommodation, as outlined by President during SONA.

The ANCYL is of a view that these actions which took place at NWU do not emulate that of students who wish to learn but rather individuals perpetuating criminal elements that may be linked to unrest. These actions delay progress in the academic calendar and further delay progress in the lives of young people who predominantly come from impoverished families.

The league further notes the stinking attitude of the NWU arrogant management towards our poor black students at the Mahikeng Campus whilst the elite minority continues to enjoy a free flow of education at the Potchefstroom Campus where black challenges are swept silently under the rug. 

 It is unfortunate that the university has unilaterally disbanded the SRC due intolerance of students' actions. This is shocking and it is an abuse of legislation by autocratic management that is not empowered by Higher Education Act of 1997 , we wonder which Act that has empowered them to make this distasteful decision. Their inability to deal with the skunk of the university and the instruction by Professor Ntathe Kgwadi to disband the CSRC seeks to undermine the democratic ability of students to elect leadership and air their views. It furthermore shows the intolerance towards black student protest. 

Management and Council have failed to meet students and address challenges at the university. Black children have been prejudiced and council has failed to place their interest at heart. Instead,  they have chosen to unleash violence and use security to kill black students on campus with live ammunition. 

The ANCYL calls for the immediate disbandment of the university council as they do not put the black child at the centre of their business. The distance of 200km between Tlokwe and Mahikeng seeks to indicate that not all students are equal, some are better than others on the basis of location and the colour of their skins. We further call for an investigation into the criminal elements on these protests Students must be put first. 

We are about to conclude talks with Provincial Government  with an aim of assisting students who have been chased out of campus especially those who are from other provinces and SADC countries. The Youth League will meet with students in an attempt to ensure safety. We urge students to disassociate themselves with any criminal elements, it is clear that those who fail to acknowledge their purpose at the university have an alternate agenda,that agenda will not succeed. We call on the department of a Higher Education to intervene in this university and others as they seek to be made breeding grounds for anarchy and instability in an ANC led government

 The rise of transformation calls and racial incidences within institutions of higher learning, from the initial #RhodesMustFall, to the #FeesMustFall and now #AfrikaansMustFall are critical developments within our campuses. Central to these is a plight for the radical transformation of the structure of our economy. 

The rise of young people is propelled by the growing disparities between the rich minority and poor majority. Rendering the poor and working class majority to feel as second class citizens in a country of their birth, subjected to poverty and the inability to fully enjoy the fruits of our democracy, because of their socioeconomic backgrounds. 

The tall statues of Apartheid architects starring down on the previously disadvantaged majority, and the racial institutional culture within previously white institutions and their preference for Afrikaans over other African languages, is a constant reminder that black lives don't matter. It is due to this deeply impeded anger towards these historical injustices that this anger brews uncontrollably. 

Whilst we don't condone racial intolerance and stand firm behind our resolve to build a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa, we call for greater focus to be placed on the transformation of the economy as the real remedy in solving the current impulse. We remain committed to the realization of economic freedom in our lifetime.

And as the Youth League we are committed to championing the plight of youth, a task we will never outsource to the red berets nor rest until this resolution is realised. ANCYL upper structures will be meeting with our branches, who have to date remained at the forefront of these institutional battles. The objective of these meetings will be to offer support and guide the efforts towards a non-racial society.

Statement issued by Mlondi Mkhize, ANCYL National Spokesperson, 25 February 2016