An Alex delegate of the recent ANC Youth League congress held in Midrand expects the newly-elected executive to live up to the revolutionary, militant but disciplined expectations of its membership.
The congress elected Collen Maine from North West Province as the new president, taking over a seat left vacant for some time since the embattled era of Julius Malema.
“This is a crucial juncture for the league, given the need and duty of the youth to defend the party, which is under attack as should be expected leading up to next year’s local government elections,” said Keith Maphutha, treasurer of the Andrew Radebe branch in Ward 116.
Maphutha said that while militancy and discipline were tough acts to balance, the league’s branches were expected to rally behind the new executive in order to exorcise the ghosts of the past which saw strained relations between members and the mother body.
He said this had distracted the league from implementing its programmes resulting in some of them being hijacked by others. This he said in reference to the Freedom Charter on economic freedom in our lifetime, which he said members expected the new executive to revive as a resolution of congress.
“We should make it real for members and the youth in general through, among others, the nationalisation of major economic sectors, in particular, mining.”
Maphutha said the programmes should also be promoted through another demand for a youth department in government. “Its mandate is to elevate youth issues to equal status with other national priorities, particularly at municipal level. This will involve direct representation through 40 percent of youth councillors in local government to ensure youth initiatives are implemented and gender relations and equality strengthened.”
He added that their presence in local government would also prepare the youth for future leadership roles; enable them to influence improvements in poor students’ access to financial and other support at tertiary level education; and in dealing with the race-based exclusion of black children from some schools.
Maphutha said that while the new executive had been challenged for their positions, they should use the non-confrontational spirit that prevailed to build the league into a giant by acting magnanimously. This, by pardoning those who took the league to court and plan to take their complaint about alleged irregularities to the Constitutional Court.
“This would be a reasonable and dignified route to take in the interest of unity and rebuilding of the organisations. Expelling them could continue old and undesirable stresses, tensions and incite disreputable reactions.”
He added that the losers had also acceded to the results, even though congress had called for a recount. “While disappointed, they called for calm in the interest of restoring dignity at the most trying time for the league. This, though, was a lesson learnt as it discredited the election through the machinations of [some] people,” he concluded.
The other presidential contenders were Ronald Lamola, former league deputy president; and Pule Mabe, former league treasurer.
