Youth call on government to address GBV, unemployment
'A country that does not invest in its youth will surely never have a great future' - YCLSA National Secretary Tinyiko Ntini
THE Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) has committed to fighting against the abuse of women and children in the context of 16 Days of Activism against the abuse of women and children.
YCLSA National Secretary Tinyiko Ntini said they are of the firm view that gender-based violence (GBV) and general human safety is a daily struggle not a seasonal one.
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“We reaffirm that GBV is a remnant of the patriarchal relations in society brought about by the crisis of capitalist social reproduction. It is largely underpinned by poor primary socialisation of children and, in particular a boy child, during their upbringing,” said Ntini.
“We are consistent in our position that perpetrators must be brought to book and there should not be bail for perpetrators of such inhumane acts in our communities.
The courts should give maximum sentences.
“We call on all peace-loving people to take a stand and act daily, consciously in defence of our women and children, since it is clear even by the admission of Police Minister Bheki Cele himself that South Africa is an unsafe country, especially for women and children.”
Ntini added that they have observed that the state of the youth in the country remains dire and that they are committed to the SACP Red October campaign which focuses on land, food and work.
“It is our long-held view that the state of youth poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment and inequality is informed by the unequal control over land as a primary productive asset.
“We call on the government to test the objectivity of the judiciary on the matter of land expropriation without compensation if it is to address the matter of youth poverty.
“We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare youth unemployment a national disaster, which will unlock every cent and channel it to address the problem of youth unemployment in the country.
“A country that does not invest in its youth will surely never have a great future, and it seems our government is obsessed with capitalist interests at the expense of its constituency.
“This we assert having observed how funding was speedily made available for Covid-19. Youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb, a reality that must be confronted urgently.
“This is because youth constitutes almost two thirds of the South African population, and more than 70% of youth between the ages of 20 and 35 years old are unemployed.
“This can no longer be a rhetoric for sloganeering for politicians when it’s a lived experience for youth in this country,” said Ntini.
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