Youth league ready to roll up its sleeves

MARITE – The ANC Youth League is more than ready to second some of their members to play an integral part of galvanising local government structures, come the 2016 local government elections.

This was according to the provincial chairperson, Mr Desmond Moela, who spoke during the league’s Freedom Charter memorial lecture at the Marite Community Hall in Bohlabela District last Sunday.

“During our provincial general council, one of the resolutions taken was that 40 per cent of councillors in next year’s local elections will be drawn from the youth league.

“This resolution entails infusing the leadership of the ANC with the youth, but not just any youth members, only capacitated members who will provide continuity in the leadership of the ANC as the ruling party,” said Moela.

“I must warn you though,” he went on as he addressed an audience comprising of all youth league structures from the four districts of Ehlanzeni, Nkangala, Gert Sibande and Bohlabela.

“Members that will be infused into leadership positions will not just be ordinary councillors, but will occupy positions such as mayors and MMCs, where they will be able to exert their skills directly into accelerating service delivery effectively,” he went on.

Moela aligned the prescripts of the Freedom Charter to the young people of attaining economic freedom during their lifetime as he added, “Our members are not destined for Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and general workers’ positions, but for key and strategic positions.

“To further empower our members, we will be looking at the different departments of our provincial government and identify those that can empower our young masses, as had been prominently espoused in premier Mabuza’s State of the Province Address.

“We have identified the likes of agriculture, where the youth can be transformed into farmers, as there are many opportunities for economic growth in that area.

We will go on a roadshow, encouraging youth to take up agricultural careers at tertiary level so that they can contribute to food security and exportation of their products.”

He, however, told the gathering that during the coming local government elections, they would ensure that the right candidates were nominated.

“Incapacitated candidates will be prevented from being included by the youth league, neither will the current mayors and councillors who have failed our communities be allowed to return to their positions and will be replaced.

“Going forward, let’s go out of here and revive our youth league branches and let them be active among communities and don’t allow yourselves to be misled by bogus leaders who operate through Facebook and other media forums.

“Let’s go out there and confront all challenges before us and ensure we restore our people’s lives for the better,” he concluded.