Since its inception in 1949, the ANC Youth League has been the engine that drives the ANC forward.
The generation of Anton Lembede, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, AP Mda, Nelson Mandela, Dr Mxolisi Majombozi and many other young people brought life and vibrancy within the Congress movement.
This was not by accident, but these young people realised that material condition were not favourable for the passive resistance especially after the coming to power of the National Party in 1948 which later introduced apartheid policies in South Africa.
It was for this reason that these Young Lions saw it fit to radicalize the African National Congress to represent the interests of all the people of South Africa.
Rule 7(.4) of the ANC constitution stipulate that ‘the ANC Youth League shall be open to all persons between the ages of 14 (fourteen) and 35 (thirty five) years.
It operates on a national, provincial and branch basis. Its objectives are to unite and lead young men and women in confronting and dealing with the problems that face the youth and to ensure that the youth make a full and rich contribution to the work of the ANC and the life of the nation.
The ANC Youth League shall function as an autonomous body within the overall structure of the ANC, of which it shall be an integral part, with its own Constitution, rules and regulations, provided that these shall not be in conflict with the Constitution and policies of the ANC’.
Over the years there has been growing tendency to refuse certain members to join the ANC YL (and the ANC) by those in leadership.
This is mostly driven by factions and leadership that is insecure of their positions especially at branch and regional level. This cannot be allowed to continue.
Since the 2nd term of the former leader of the ANCYL Julius Malema, the YL has been facing a serious state of paralysis. The disbandment of certain structures that differed with that leadership was the death of democracy within the league.
KZN and Ehlanzeni region of the YL are just 2 examples of the many structures that suffered this unprincipled behaviour after the 2011 YL National Congress.
Former deputy president of the ANC, Kgalema Motlanthe once characterised the ANC as the epitome of democracy and this should also apply in the ANC YL which is an integral part of the ANC.
We cannot allow certain individuals to compromise democratic principles of the organisation for their narrow selfish interests. Not in our Youth League, and not in our MDM structures in general.
The disbandment of the national structure of the Youth League (though necessary at that time) also positioned the league to a very difficult situation.
It is for this reason that we as young people especially within the congress movement must dedicate our energies towards building a strong, vibrant, and militant, but discipline African National Congress Youth League.
The ANC Youth League has produced many great leaders like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Peter Mokaba, Nathi Mthethwa,Malusi Gigaba, Fikile Mbalula, Vuyiswa Tulelo, Febe Potgieter-Gqubule ( who is now an advisor to AU Commission Chairperson Dlamini-Zuma, at African Union Headquarters) and many other leaders. The current generation can also do the same, for without the strong, the future of the ANC will be bleak.
As we continue with the process of re-building the league, the current generation must define its mission in the current conjuncture as that of 1949.
It is without doubt that the current generation knows the current challenges facing the youth. Poverty, unemployment and inequalities continue to confront the youth in the main. It is for these reasons why the current generation of the YL must confront these challenges.
But the process of rebuilding must also do away with the ‘new tendency’ of gate-keeping and factionalism. Factions do not build organisations, they do the opposite.
Cde Joel Netshitenzhe in Umrabulo 27 (Of Cats, Factions and a Revolution) told a story of the brutal killing of the President of the Queensland Cat Protection Society, Kathleen Marshall whose assassination was driven by factions. This we cannot allow to happen in our movement.
One thing we should keep in mind is that there is no one who owns the Youth league; there is no one who owns a position in the Youth League.
Everyone who qualifies and agree to abide by the constitution, the Freedom Charter and other duly adopted policy positions of the Youth League must be allowed to join the organisation.
Let us do away with gate-keeping and build the Youth League that will represent the aspiration of every young person, even if they belong to a different clique.
Tom Mhlanga is a BA student at Wits, a member of the Youth League, YCL SA, SASCO, ANC and SACP. He writes in his personal capacity.
