STATEMENT OF THE 12TH PLENARY SESSION OF THE YCLSA 2ND CONGRESS NATIONAL COMMITTEE

17 August 2010

1. The National Committee of the YCLSA held its scheduled meeting over the weekend, beginning on Friday, 13 August 2010 and ending on Sunday, 15 August 2010. The below are the outcomes of the National Committee meeting:

On Politicians, Business and Corruption; and the ArceloMittal BEE Deal

2. The National Committee took a resolution to intensify the Campaign by the YCLSA and the Alliance to fight against corruption. In this regard, the National Committee vowed to use every platform to push for a law that prohibits politicians from taking part in business. Politicians must decide whether they want to serve the people or they want to serve their pockets. Politicians, whether as Members of Parliament, Cabinet or the President are paid enough to focus on serving the people; as to why they continue to draw salaries from the public purse and still hop from one office to another, filling tender forms is unexplainable. We will also campaign to ensure that relatives of politicians are prohibited from doing business with government. As the YCLSA, we believe that the fight against corruption is in line with our struggle for socialism. We condemn any use of allegations of corruption as reason to purge politicians, but believe that anyone accused of corruption should answer if there is a legitimate case.

3. In this regard, the YCLSA condemned the ArceloMittal BEE deal, and the unfortunate utterances by one of the beneficiaries, Sandile Zungu, who referred to it as ‘money for jam'. We see this as irresponsible, inconsiderate and immoral. We also condemn the CEO of ArceloMittal South Africa for intimating that their selection of partners was based on their immediate strategic interests, and thus, selecting partners on the basis of their proximity to political office. We call on responsible state institutions to investigate whether this deal was legitimate or not.

On the Media Appeals Tribunal

4. The National Committee further took a decision to support the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal. We believe that the media should be held accountable to an external regulatory body that will report to parliament. There are already institutions such as the Auditor General, the Human Rights Commission and many more that promotes public accountability and report to parliament without any bias. There is no legitimacy in the propaganda spread by the media that this will be a platform muzzle and censure the media. We believe that a free media is the cornerstone of a free society. Without information, society will not be informed and thus, will never be able to defend a democratic, non-racist and non-sexist society. However, this should be done through a responsible and accountable media.

5. The YCLSA however, condemn in the strongest terms possible the conduct of the police and the prosecution in the arrest of journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika. If wa Afrika's account of the events of the day are true, then we believe that police overstepped their powers. The conduct of the police can be characterised as intimidation. We believe that if wa Afrika has committed a crime, he should be charged and tried without the drama that accompanied his arrest and the hesitation in his prosecution. In supporting the Media Appeals Tribunal, we will also defend the right to freedom of speech and that of association as enshrined in the constitution, including those of journalists.

University of Free State

6.   The YCLSA National Committee took a decision to send a delegation to the University of Free State to meet with our structures and also to engage with the Vice Chancellor, Prof Jonathan Jansen. The National Committee called on the immediate resignation of Jansen, due to the fact that since his appointment, the university has jumped from one crisis to another. The National Committee further condemned the unilateral and unconstitutional decision of suspending student leaders from the university, and called on the management to reverse this with immediate effect.

Jobs for Youth Summit

7. The National Committee took a decision to intensify its Jobs for Youth Campaign within the ambit of the Jobs for Youth Charter and the Jobs for Youth Coalition. Through the Coalition, the National Committee decided that we should target creating direct jobs for young people, imparting needed skills to youth and facilitating the creation of youth co-operatives and small enterprises. We call on the private and public sector to work together in promoting youth initiatives in this regard.

On the Nhlapo Commission

8. The YCLSA National Committee expressed its opposition to the findings on the Nhlapo Commission, and the general system of appointment of Kings. We believe that the practice of royalty is undemocratic and sexist as its basis are that of appointment along the blood line and does not recognise leadership by women. We further believe that if we are to intensify the practice of democracy, as expressed in the Freedom Charter, that the people shall govern, the first practice that should be discontinued is that of the Kings.

On the 3rd National Congress

9.  The YCLSA will be having its 3rd National Congress beginning on the 08-12 December 2010. This Congress will be attended by 2000 delegates representing more than 900 branches across the country. In the month of October, the National Working Committee will release discussion documents in preparation for the National Congress. This will be an elective congress, with nominations for leadership beginning at branches from 1 November 2010.

Statement issued by the YCLSA National Committee, August 16 2010

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