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The ANCYL National Congress National Youth Task Team held its first meeting on 9 April 2021 until 11 April 2021. This was as the movement commemorated the 28th anniversary since the death of the revolutionary and militant comrade Chris Thembisile Hani as well as in the year of Charlotte Maxeka, one of the finest leaders produced by the liberation movement and a pioneer of the struggle for the emancipation of women. The appointment of a female Convenor and Coordinator is an unprecedented move and marks the first time in the history of our great organization where women are at the helm of its leadership. This we do not take lightly as we know that besides carrying on our shoulders the responsibility to revive, reimagine and reposition  the ANCYL with the primary task of taking it to a credible national conference, we carry on our shoulders the hopes and aspirations of young woman who through the years have been over looked by the exclusionary patriarchal tendencies that continue to plague our movement and society at large. The ANC in its collective wisdom has put together a diverse, vibrant and dynamic group of young leaders who represent the demographics of our country. We are confident that this collective is fit for the difficult but imperative responsibility in executing the twin tasks as envisioned by the generation of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Anton Lemede, Peter Mokaba and many other ANCYL leaders who came before us.

The NYTT acknowledges that the ANCYL has faced a plethora of challenges over the past decade, and it may seem as though the organization never fully recovered from its initial disbandment 7 years ago. It is therefore important to draw tangible lessons from the past while charting a new way forward for the future. The NYTT concedes that the rebuilding of the organization is not an overnight process, it is rather a continuous process that requires all hands on deck. The rebuilding process must be participatory and youth from all sectors and constituencies must be central to the process.

On international affairs

The NYTT reflected on the International balance of forces and noted that Western imperialism continues to impose its will on weaker states through their armed forces, economic sanctions, multilateral institutions, and the use of international development funding institutions. Global superpowers continue in their unabated race for natural resources in Africa and the developing world at the expense of the people and with the sole objective of fulfilling their national imperatives. The emergence of China as a strong player in the global world order has given the developing world a breather from Western economic imperialism though the impact of the growth of the East must continue being monitored, especially where Africa is concerned.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the ANCYL to the universal rights to life and dignity and therefore condemns the merciless killings of innocent people of Mozambique. The NYTT calls for the swift intervention of SADC and the AU to ensure that a humanitarian crisis is avoided. The ANC government must ensure that global terroristic activities do not reach our shores.  

On Covid 19

The NYTT notes with sympathy the prolonged effects of COVID-19 on our people. The death toll and pain suffered by families during this pandemic is nothing like the younger generation has seen before. The social disorientation and psychosocial effects have hit young people hard and the ANCYL wishes to urge young people and society at large to continue to comply with the regulations as we adjust to the new normal.

We are concerned however at the economic effect this pandemic has had on the youth as they have had to face an abrupt increase in massive retrenchments, a surge in unemployment and economic exclusion. The NYTT noted with grave concern the rampant corruption that prevailed during this pandemic where crooks lined up their pockets while our people were dying. We want to see the swift arrests of persons who embezzled funds meant to aid young of South Africa.

The unemployment rate of those between 15-30 years in South Africa is now sitting at over 65% and this trend continues unabated with no clear and concise solution in sight.  To the contrary, government redirected the lion’s share of the Covid 19 relief funds to monopoly industries at the detriment of small and medium enterprises.

On Youth Development

The NYTT declared unemployment and landlessness as the enemy to the economic emancipation of the youth of South Africa.

The NYTT appreciates the efforts of the previous NEC in scrapping experience for all entry level posts. It is unfortunate however that there has been no real implementation of this decision. Government departments nationwide continue to require experience for entry level posts and we call upon the Department of Public Service and Administration to fast track the implementation of this decision as a matter of urgency. This will go a long way in leading the way for the private sector to follow suite.

The National Youth Service is one of governments flagship youth development programs but it continues to not meet its targets. We are encouraged that the President committed to ensuring that the National Youth Service functions optimally, and as the ANCYL we call on government to ensure that by April 2022, 3 million young people have been absorbed by this programme.

The NYTT is concerned by Parliament's stalling on the appointment of the board of the NYDA. It is appalling that the ANC in Parliament has been a central part in the prolonging of the appointment of the board. The outgone board did great work in ensuring the stability of the entity and it is sad to see the reversal of their gains as a result of a lack of political will by the elders on youth development issues.

The NYTT has characterized the issue of youth unemployment as a national crisis and our firm belief is that it should be treated as such. The NYTT therefore revolved to embark on a consultative process to engage Ministers in the economic cluster to understand what they are doing to address the national crisis with the aim of ensuring our government is a responsive one that puts the matters of youth development first.

On Land

The NYTT notes without any apology that the land question is a central part in dismantling the effects of the colonial legacy which has left millions of black South African disfranchised and living in poverty. The stranglehold of Monopoly Capital over the South African economy continues to oppress the working class and black people in their majority. We note the legislative work underway around expropriation of land without compensation and we hope that the ANC can fast track land restitution in this regard.

On Free Education

The NYTT appreciates the historical context of the call for free education as first articulated in the Freedom Charter, resolved in the 2007 ANC Polokwane elective conference and finally implemented in 2017 by the ANC government. The ANCYL commends the ANC government for intervening on the NSFAS crisis as perpetuated by the department of Higher Education and Training. In light of this, the NYTT resolved that in its next NYTT meeting it will engage Minister Nzimande to get a sense of the challenges faced and assist him in providing progressive solutions on the matter. ANC deployees must stop hiding behind English and get to work in ensuring our young people from poor and working-class backgrounds are educated as this is their only ticket out of poverty, unemployment and inequality. As the ANCYL, we are committed to working with SASCO to fight to defend the gains of the National Democratic Revolution.

On an inclusive South Africa

Racism in our country remains a concern. The police brutality meted out on blacks during protests does not assist in social cohesion. The death of Mthokozisi Ntumba  is but an example of how the state plays a central role in undermining the values  of non-racialism as envisioned in a national democratic society. The fight against Gender based violence and the plight of the LGBTQ+ community is something the ANCYL holds dear to our hearts and we will continue to engage this sector of society to ensure that their fundamental challenges are addressed and thus we can collectively build a safer and more inclusive society for all.

On Unity in the African National Congress

The NYTT declares itself as a unifying structure during a time of gravely factional political dynamics within the mass democratic movement. The disturbing recording of the last ANC NEC meeting that circulated on social media is a clear indication that our movement is in trouble and as revolutionaries we must rise to the occasion and play our part in restoring order. We are happy that the ANC President agreed with the ANCYL suggestion that all NEC members including the national officials must go back to political school and that Cde Enoch Godongwana and Cde Toni Yengeni must be taken to the disciplinary committee of the ANC for their ill-disciplined and appalling conduct. We urge all members and leaders of the ANC at all levels to place the wellbeing and transformation of the lives of the disenfranchised people of South Africa above their own personal interests. The motive forces of our struggle only have the ANC to rely on for their liberation and we will not watch as elders tear our glorious movement apart.

On Local Government Elections

The ANCYL will work tirelessly in campaigning for the ANC towards the local government elections. The ANC must get to work and ensure that services as well as economic opportunities reach our people as that is the only way to secure the vote. The times of door to door where our volunteers have no answers to the economic plight of young people is over. We must give hope and inspire confidence that the challenges faced by the youth will be addressed. The ANCYL commits itself to working day and night to ensure that we win back our metro’s so that the people’s party can change the lives of the majority. We are sure that the ANC will secure a decisive victory but we shall no longer give the ANC a blank cheque in this regard.

On Organisational Matters

The ANCYL has been plagued with financial challenges since the gross financial mismanagement and grand scale looting of its assets by the former NEC which was disbanded in 2013. The NYTT will over the next few weeks urgently assess the state of its organization including the financial and legal standing as part of the road to a functional organization and ultimately a national elective conference. 

The NYTT further commits to developing a comprehensive program of action that will actualize ANCYL 7 cardinal pillars and the clarion call of “economic freedom in our lifetime”. This program of Action will include a process of continuous interaction with deployees of the ANC in Cabinet to deposit dissatisfactions with the slow pace of resolving and implementing all matters of interest of the youth of the country.

The NYTT  meeting further appointed comrade Mlondolozi Mkhize as the National Organiser, comrade Sizophila Mkhize as the National Spokesperson and comrade Thuthukile Zuma as the National Fundraiser. The NYTT elected the following comrades to serve as members of the National Working Task Team:

Precious Banda

Tsileng Sobuthongo

Anele Matuntuta

Xolani Mgxotheni

Lesego Makhubela

Sebang Mahlabi

Gumani Mukwevho

Fasiha Hassan

Pinky Mbele

Eugene Manana

Long Live the ANCYL!!

Amandla!!

Issued by The ANCYL National Congress National Youth Task Team