STATEMENT OF THE GAUTENG ANC YOUTH LEAGUE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

22 January 2012

The Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC Youth League held its first meeting for the 2012 political year. The Provincial Executive Committee discussed issues relating to the state of the organization and assessed the local and global balance of forces. Amongst others, we reflected on the following:

• Preparations for the upcoming Regional congresses of the ANCYL
• Capacity of the state and its ability to meet the basic needs of our people
• Recent developments on E- tolling
• Preparations for the ANC's 53rd National Conference in Mangaung
• Leadership and discipline in the organization

The Congress Youth League congratulates the ANC on the successful celebrations of the centenary in Mangaung on the 8th of January, and further call on our members to participate in programmes to be organized by various structures of the ANC in the province; we will also be organizing community rallies throughout the province as part of mobilizing the youth and society in general behind the objectives of our beloved movement.

The celebrations have demonstrated once again that the ANC is a strategic force of cohesion in the provision of leadership to society. The character and revolutionary outlook of the ANC has affirmed its rootedness amongst the poor, working class and all other progressive forces in society.

To this end, the PEC resolved to work hard towards the achievement of unity in diversity as declared in the January 8th statement; and step up efforts to mobilize young people from different class backgrounds, national groups and religious backgrounds to swell the ranks of our organization...we will be consolidating the work of building strong and sustainable branches which are rooted in our communities and; always at the centre of youth and community struggles.

Towards ANCYL regional congresses

In the discussion on the preparations for the regional congresses- the PEC assessed the state of readiness of the structures and general membership of the organization. The PEC is therefore of the view that these congresses provide us with an opportunity to take stock of challenges we face, and adopt appropriate strategies to tackle them.

We noted the continued internal challenges relating to discipline and organizational democracy in the YL and our mother body, especially during the period preceding conferences. Hence we committed ourselves towards working for the unity and cohesion of the democratic forces at all levels.

Accordingly, we call for calm and discipline; all the progressive forces must close ranks in defense of our democratic gains and the integrity of our movement, earned over many decades of struggle.

The PEC will lead an intensive programme of political education amongst its membership to ensure that the preparations for congresses are informed by a thorough understanding of the tasks we must undertake and the caliber of the leadership required taking these forward. We will encourage frank and open discussions on issues ranging from the economic transformation, social transformation, governance with specific emphasis on the capacity of our state, international relations; including issues of leadership in the ANC and the Congress Youth League.

Measures to relieve the poor

The PEC took time to analyse the political situation in the country, continent and internationally and came to a conclusion that we are seating on a ticking time bomb as a result of economic challenges faced by the whole world; we also noted with grave concern the escalating levels of unemployment, poverty and the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

We observed the slow pace of transformation in education at all levels and note efforts made by the democratic state to redress the imbalances of the past, however, we are not satisfied with progress made in this regard, and hence we call for urgent and drastic steps to ensure access and improvement on the quality of education in public institutions. We will be working very closely with all relevant stakeholders to find solutions; amongst other things, we will be mobilizing the progressive student and youth organizations to intensify a campaign for free, compulsory and quality education. We further call for the urgent and drastic steps to be taken in ensuring that SETA's work efficiently and effectively.

We note austerity measures put in place by government in response to the economic crisis, however we believe more tough choices must be made with a clear intention to bringing about relieve to the poorest of the poor.

Accordingly, we call on  government to put a moratorium on salary increments for all public representatives including the President, members of Cabinet, Premiers , MEC's, MP's, MPL's, councilors and Senior managers in government for the next three years as an interim measure to raise more resources which must be directed towards provision of basic services to our communities.

We also believe that the reviewal of ministerial hand book must be expediated which should help in cutting some of the benefits given to members of the executive; with an express purpose of cutting luxuries and saving public resources for better usage in service delivery. In these difficult and trying times the leadership must demonstrate solidarity with the poor through its actions.

Furthermore, the private sector must be reigned in as well because they have not shown enough commitment towards the project of nation building and job creation. Government must impose heavy tax on the rich who continue to display opulence; hence we call on government to explore a possibility of introducing legislation that will force the private sector to address the wage gap between the executives of big companies and ordinary workers.

We are sick and tired of companies that continue to exploit and casualise our people through labour brokers. We are gearing up to confront and deal with the enemy of the NDR head on. We believe that this will go a long way in saving the much needed money which can be channeled towards Education, health and other basic services. The hypocrisy of monopoly capital must be exposed...

We also call on the democratic state to increase its capacity to deliver services to our people, amongst other things we call on the scrapping of tenders, because in most instances they are a source of corruption and conflict in the public sector; the state must endeavor to employ capable and skilled workforce which must implement projects aimed at improving the lives of our people within the context of achieving our developmental goals.

Our goal of achieving economic freedom in our life time will not be achieved if decisive and bold action is not taken urgently.

In the discourse about the preparations for the ANC's national conference the PEC has noted the following:

• The issue of leadership seems to be the principal pre-occupation over policy. People continue to raise this issue through wrong Chanels thus deepening the crisis our organization is facing.
• We would like to appeal to the leadership of the ANC to open this debate soonest through ANC structures, hopefully in the next NEC a decision will be taken in this regard. This will go a long way in curbing the tendency of factionalism and anarchy that will destroy our glorious movement if left unattended and featuring most in the media.
• The membership of the ANC has a responsibility to take stock of the achievements of any leadership collective and critic it where necessary. This can only be done by properly constituted structures of the organization.
• Equally, members must remain resilient and disciplined towards the 53rd national conference of the ANC. The name calling and labeling will not assist us in realizing the objectives of the Freedom charter.
• Leadership must lead by example and avoid making populist statements in public on internal matters of the organization. Unity and cohesion of the ANC is sacrosanct.
• The DC process currently underway involving national leaders of the Youth League may have long term negative effects on the League, its relationship with the ANC, articulation of policy and other matters relating to the twin task of the ANC, we wish our leaders well during this process and we will therefore not be tempted to raise its merit in public.

The PEC further note and support:

The candidacy of Comrade Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to AU. We hope other countries will support her election since she is a capable woman with impeccable credentials and skills; which will come in handy for AU. We believe that she has the courage and vision to take the AU to a higher level.

The AU is faced with a number of challenges relating to how it clearly drives the vision of development for Africa.  We are of the firm view that the election of Cde Nkosazana Zuma  will be the beginning of the process of revitalizing the organization.

E-tolling

Over years Gauteng has exhibited signs of stability and the ability to focus the state machinery on service delivery. This trend has continued to be the order of the day. We are however concerned that in recent time, our ability to provide this leadership seems to be taking strain.

• The ANC both as an organization and in government must speak with greater clarity on the matter of the e-tolling scheme. We have pronounced when the matter was brought into the public discourse that the Youth League is opposed to the scheme.
• We are however cautioning that the matter of e-tolling must not be raised in isolation to the building of a transport system that is affordable, accessible, efficient and integrated.
• The Department of Health seems to be facing challenges and national treasury has intervened. This is denting Gauteng's record of good governance; we call on the national treasury to deal with the real issues related to the budget baseline of the province and the department without which the problem will not be solved.

Statement issued on behalf of the Gauteng ANC Youth League Provincial Executive Committee by Ayanda Kasa-Ntsobi, ANCYL Gauteng Provincial Secretary, January 22 2012

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