The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) on Thursday applauded the ANC for its “strategic and inclusive” approach in forming a Government of National Unity (GNU), highlighting that it will not compromise on policies that are critical to advancing the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).

After losing it outright majority in the 2024 national and provincial elections, the ANC was forced to approach political parties to form a government.

The ANCYL said policies that contradict the principles of the NDR, such as the proposal to reform National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) into a tiered bursary and loan system, “will not happen under our watch”.

This follows news reports suggesting that the Democratic Alliance (DA) proposes turning NSFAS into a bank-like institution that issues traditional loans to students. 

“While we are prepared to work with all parties, including the DA, our commitment to progressive policies remains unwavering. The GNU must focus on issues critical to the youth, such as unemployment, higher education, crime, and drug abuse, and ensure that inclusive economic growth and effective service delivery are prioritised for all South Africans,” said the youth league.

It stressed that it would not allow any regression or the implementation of policies that undermine the hard-won gains of the country’s democracy.

The ANCYL highlighted that it was committed to working with the GNU to ensure that the voices and needs of the youth were prioritised and addressed, while firmly opposing any policies that undermined the NDR.

Meanwhile, the youth league said it welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitments to addressing the inequalities and hardships that continued to plague the nation, fostering a non-racial, non-sexist society and building an inclusive economy resonated deeply with the youth of South Africa.

The ANCYL explained that it had seen the inclusion of about 20 young people under the age of 35 as parliamentarians, in the seventh Parliament, saying this was a positive step towards ensuring that the leadership reflected the demographics of society, where the youth formed a substantial part.

Fourteen of the ANCYL National Executive Committee members are now in Parliament, with others serving in provincial legislatures.