UNEMPLOYMENT among the youth is a ticking time bomb and the government needs to address the issue as a matter of urgency.
That is the sentiment of newly elected ANC Youth League Chairman of the Musa Dladla Region, Philani Mthethwa.
‘Currently the unemployment rate in this country is sitting at 25%, and 75% of those are young people. We cannot guarantee that young people will always be patient with us,’ said Mthethwa at the recent ‘re-run’ conference at the Umfolozi FET College.
The conference also elected Nathi Xulu as the Deputy Chairperson, Njabulo Nzuza as Secretary, Slindile Dube as Deputy Secretary, Sandile Ncube as Treasurer and the 12 additional members.
Mthethwa spoke to the Zululand Observer in an exclusive interview about the re-run of the Youth League Conference, his criticism of City Mayor of uMhlathuze and his position on the forthcoming ANC’s Regional Conference in Musa Dladla.
ZO: You must be a happy man after being elected to lead the youth league in this region?
‘I’m happy that the conference has finally come and gone. This now gives us space to move on with our programmes. It has been a frustrating period since our first conference in March when the same leadership was elected, but disapproved by the Youth League’s national office of the Youth League.
But all that is water under the bridge. We are happy to continue rallying the youth behind the vision of the ANC to champion and encourage young people to go back to school, especially those who dropped out. Our role is to encourage both the private sector and government to create a climate conducive for job creation.
ZO: In February this year uMhlathuze City Mayor Elphas Mbatha raised his concern about the severe underspending at his municipality, where he blamed incapable officials for the budget woes. You reacted with anger to this. In fact you called for his resignation. What motivated that?
‘Firstly I was not angry. Secondly when you talk of uMhlathuze, the political head there is Mr Mbatha. He should have been more involved rather than blaming others for failing to spend the budget. By this he showed us that he was failing to command the team he is leading. Where was the oversight committe when this budget underspending was happening?
‘As Mayor, Chairperson of Exco, the Finance Portfolio Committee and as mandated by MFMA, he can’t just escape the blame. We were disappointed by his conduct, especially as he is the captain of that ship with an abundance of experience in local government. This municipality carries the weight and expectations of basically the entire community of the northern KZN. It represents the best opportunity for an economic breakthrough in our area, in terms of alleviating unemployment, poverty and inequalities.
‘Yes we did call on the ANC to fast-track his release as he himself has accepted what many of us in the Youth League have been suspecting, that old and sterile people are incapable of driving such a complex and modern machine called uMhlathuze Municipality. But we will still recognise and respect him as our leader, but for now he needs to save the ANC by resigning.’
ZO: Let’s shift our focus to the much anticipated Musa Dladla Regional Conference. You have been known as king makers in times like these. Is that your feeling?
‘No we are not king makers, we are opinion makers. We occupy a special role in the ANC and ours is to ensure that in every conference issues of young people take centre stage. When it comes to electing leadership, we will support anyone who listens and supports our ideologies. We want people who will prioritise issues of young people in municipalities we control.
ZO: There is a perception that you are being used by a certain faction going to this conference
‘I don’t know about perceptions, except to say we will support a youthful leadership.
ZO: That being?
‘Well, as the Youth League we have unequivocally resolved to rally our support behind a Thulani Mashaba-led camp.
