AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS YOUTH LEAGUE – KWAZULU NATAL MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE PGC
1 September 2015
We have called this media briefing to give account to the young people of KwaZulu-Natal and the country at large about the outcomes of the Provincial General Council held over the weekend and the outcomes of the PEC meeting held on the 21st of August 2015. We are reporting to the nation because we fully appreciate that this organisation we lead is the only credible parliament of young people in the society.
ON THE PROVINCIAL GENERAL COUNCIL
The ANCYL in the province convened the Provincial General Council over the past weekend to consolidate the provincial positions on matters pertinent to the National Congress. The PGC took into account the critical tasks facing the ANCYL in general as we emerge from the culture that has seen the Youth League assuming a position that defined it outside the African National Congress. The PGC re-affirmed the ANCYL as a defined body of opinion within the African National Congress. The PGC further re-affirmed that character of the ANCYL as being the preparatory school for the ANC and a school in which cannot have the death of the ANC orchestrated and certified.
The PGC acknowledged that the period since the dissolution of the National Executive Committee resulted in the crippling of the youth agenda both within and outside the ANC. The voice of young people had faded and its influence in the society diminishing and thus creating a space for counter-revolutionary forces to appear dominant within the youth sector. As we emerge from the National Congress, we are determined to herald a new era which will rekindle the confidence that young people have had in the Youth League since its formation.
As the province, we will be sending the largest delegation to the National Congress composed of 820 voting delegates. The strength we will bring to the National Congress is not only on voting but on shaping the quality and content of discussions. The KwaZulu Natal delegation remains united, resolute and determined to make the upcoming National Congress a watershed congress which will mark a decisive shift from the painful period that had besieged our glorious youth movement.
We will meet with all delegates tomorrow to finalise the policy positions of our province of the number of issues contained in the perspective document. On leadership issues, the PGC unanimously resolved to support the following leaders:
President : Collen Maine
Deputy President: Desmond Moela
Secretary General: Njabulo “Mzimela” Nzuza
Deputy Secretary General: Thandi Moraka
Treasurer General: Reggie Nkabinde
On additional members, the province of KwaZulu Natal will forward the following comrades:
Bavelile Hlongwa, Mlondolozi Mkhize, Mkhuseli, Philani Zama, Portia.
We remain confident that the leadership collective to be led by these officials will be equal to the task of leading the programme that will emerge from the National Congress and further reposition the ANCYL to be the only credible voice for young people in the country , and indeed their natural home.
ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE PEC
The PEC held its ordinary meeting on the 21st of August 2015. The PEC received and appreciated the work done to steer the organisation and forge unity amongst its members. The PEC appreciated the programme led by the Officials to visit all regions in the plight to consolidate unity amongst members of the organisation. The PEC further reiterated its call for all its members to respect and work for unity and cohesion of both the ANCYL and the ANC.
The PEC further called on the ANC government in the province to speed up the establishment of youth directorates in all departments and municipalities. The establishment of youth directorates will put impetus on the institutionalisation of youth agenda in the province. We are of the firm conviction that the youth development is everybody’s business and such must be reflected in practice.
The PEC also received the report on the state of the ANC in the province. The PEC expressed its concern on the fact that the province continue to be visited by challenges of unity and cohesion. The institutionalization of factionalism in the organisation, the attempts to run the organisation through caucuses, the culture of victors and vanquished and other ills that have besieged the movement continue to tarnish the standing of the organisation in the society and its capacity to lead both its members and the society at large.
Having deliberated on all these issues, the PEC resolved to lobby the ANC to convene its conference before the end of this year. We hold a firm view that the current form of the PEC will not help the organisation any further. The life of the ANC in the province is the business of all of us in the ANC and its leagues. The ailing ANC is an impediment to the broader agenda for young people. Equally, the formation of the Youth League was partly to ensure the continued renewal and relevance of the ANC. As a result we cannot fold hands when the ANC appears to be devouring itself.
After extensive deliberations in the PEC, the PEC resolved to support Cde Sihle Zikalala as the Provincial Chairperson and Cde Supper Zuma as the Provincial Secretary. We continue to engage further on the other positions including additional members. We do so in order to depart from the culture of having strong officials with not so strong additional members and that compromises the entire quality of the movement.
We wish to appeal to all members of the ANC to handle this issue with care so that it does not compromise the ANC in the public eye. We encourage all those who may hold a different view to engage us as opposed to insulting and denigrating us. Equally, all those who support our view are call on to advance it with dignity and care.
Statement issued by the ANCYL KZN PEC, September 1 2015
