PHUTI MOSOMANE
President Cyril Ramaphosa told hundreds of delegates at the 26th ANCYL national congress that the newly-elected top six leaders must return the league to its roots as a militant autonomous organisation.
After a wait of more than two hours, Ramaphosa finally addressed the Yough League delegates convening for the first time in eight years.
Ramaphosa applauded the youth for selecting a theme ‘Economic Freedom and Social Change now and not later’ – in his view, this will assist the league to be a ‘motive force’ to regain its former glory as a strong, vibrant, and militant organisation.
“I want to applaud you for spending time on looking into ways of transforming society and to change South Africa. You took to deliberate on renewal of the ANCYL, for this you must be a disciplined organisation.
“You are now required to mobilise young people for economic freedom – come up with strategies on how to achieve economic emancipation ahead of the 2024 national and provincial elections in 2024,” he said.
He urged the league to renew and modernise itself to be an effective political formation able to attract the youth of the country to vote for the ANC and want to join the ANCYL.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the absence of elected leadership has affected the youth, saying today that that period has ended.
“Now rebuild your structures and focus on political education. Fight negative tendencies of factionalism. The ANCYL must participate fully in the Youth Alliance. You must enter the battle of ideas,” he said.
He urged the youth to look at strategies to help reduce the cost of living and youth unemployment, which is a ticking time bomb.
“I offer congratulations to the newly elected officials. You made history by electing the 1st female deputy president and ensuring 50/50 gender balance in the top national officials.
“Be a strong and militant ANCYL – the young people have not had a voice in a long time. You are free now to be the ANCYL. You are free from being controlled by the ANC. You have the organisational autonomy. But you must adhere to the ideological view of the ANC.”
INSIDE POLITICS
