*YCLSA NATIONAL COMMITTEE STATEMENT* 25 September 2011
The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) held its 3rd Plenary Session of the 3rd National Congress Committee from the 23rd – 25thSeptember 2011, in Braamfontein. The purpose of the meeting was to look into the state of the organisation, receive reports from Provincial Structures and assess progress in terms of implementation of a quarterly Programme of Action as adopted by the 2nd Plenary Session of the National Committee. *A vibrant and campaigning organisation * The National Committee made an honest assessment of the state of the organisation and arrived at a conclusion that the YCLSA is an organisation existing in all corners of the country, vibrant and campaigning on most of the issues affecting young people. This was evidenced by a successful Ruth First Memorial Games which took place in Durban, in the Province of Kwazulu Natal. The event’s aim was at targeting communities affected by unemployment, poverty and substance abuse. The programme was aimed at ensuring that youth don’t wait for services, but instead become agents of progress within their respective communities by creating self-sustaining activities that will guarantee the well-being of society in general. The National Committee is satisfied that campaigns conceptualised by the YCL are getting an expression and implemented by other organisations and government departments and entities. Some of the campaigns that we are proud to have initiated include, Compulsory Circumcision of young boys, which the Department of Health is advocating, Free Sanitary Towels, and a campaign around Youth unemployment. We have further committed ourselves that by 2014 we must have recruited 1% of the 19 million young people in South Africa as members of the YCL. *National University Based Branch Summit* The National Committee met immediately after its successful University Based Branch Summit which took place in Durban. The National Committee reaffirmed its position on taking forward the resolutions of the summit, but importantly to ensure that a radical programme ensue to make education fashionable for all young people. We will continue to engage the Department of Higher Education and Training to ensure a creation of an environment conducive, not only for learning, but for a better and more increased access to higher education and training. *SACP Red October campaign * The National Committee resolved that all structures of the YCLSA throughout the country will be participating radically on the Red October Programme of the SACP, with the theme centred around education. It is the view of the National Committee that the twin challenges bedevilling young people in this country is Unemployment and Lack of access to Education for skills development and capacity building. The YCL will be participating in the Red October programme of the SACP in order to rally young people, to recognise the importance of education and the impact that it can make in reducing unemployment and a general backlog of lack of skills. We will work and continue to engage government department like Public Enterprises together with its State Owned Companies to contribute, through their programmes like Artisan and apprenticeship development aimed at capacity building in order to engage more young people in this programmes. However, the YCL is worried at the ratio between funds channelled towards infrastructural development in this department and the actual anticipated jobs. It is our view that more money is being used for huge projects with less impact and contribution towards job creation. *Judgment on the “Dubul ibhunu” song* The National Committee took issue around the judgment expressed by Judge Lamont on the “Dubul ibhunu” song. We welcome and support the decision by the ANC to challenge the court ruling. However, our view is that the movement in its entirety should not narrowly look at the judgement, but start a discussion on the role of the judiciary in society. It is our firm belief that the notion of an independent judiciary is false and a fallacy in the context of South Africa. We cannot have an independent judiciary in a class divided society, worse still, such purported and implied, independent judiciary expresses views on the discourse and political shape of the country. It is the view of the National Committee that the judiciary has positioned itself as a counter revolutionary wing of the state, hell bend at undermining the gains, the history and vision of developing a prosperous, non-racial society and ultimately weakening the capacity of the progressive forces to steer the country towards its developmental objectives. *YCLSA welcomes the decision of the President to act on the conduct of Sicelo Shiceka and Bheki Cele* The YCLSA welcome the decision of the President to act on the conduct of Sicelo Shiceka and Bheki Cele. This is a sign of commitment from the President and Cabinet to act on any matter, whether alleged or factual, around corruption. Corruption has been one of the most problematic elements of a capitalist society and continues to undermine development and prosperity in society. We think that this is a positive step in the right direction and will bring back public confidence on the state and its ability to confront and deal with corruption in its entirety, regardless of who is involved. *Swaziland bailout * The National Committee expressed shock and disappointment at the decision of South African Government to grant a bailout loan to Swaziland. It has always been the view of the YCL that Swaziland monarchy and its administration is just an expression of apartheid and injustice meted to the majority of the working class and the poor in Swaziland. It is our view that the money given to Swaziland, which are taxes generated out of the sweat and blood of the workers, will be used to sustain a lavish lifestyle of King Mswati and the royal family, whilst majority of the people of Swaziland live in abject poverty. The YCL will continue to work with PUDEMO, Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) and other progressive organisations, to raise awareness, both in South Africa, Swaziland and the globe, on the injustices, undemocratic rule and state of misery and poverty inflicted to the people of Swaziland by King Mswati. *We support Palestinian Statehood * The National Committee welcomes with joy the position of South Africa to vote in favour of a Palestinian Statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. As the Young Communist League we will continue to fight for the total independence of the Palestinian people against the aggressive and barbaric tendencies of Israel and United States of America. We will therefore continue to mobilise our people through the Palestinian Solidarity Forum which seeks to unite all the sects which are scattered all over the country under one banner, engage with various organs from civil society to government and political formations on the Palestinian question. The YCL recognises the Rights of all people of the world for independence and self-governance and we shall continue to strive for a just and peaceful world. *On COP 17* The National Committee noted the coming Conference of Parties (COP 17) which will be held in Durban later this year. It is the view of the National Committee that climate change is not only an environmental issue but a class and ideological warfare. It is our view that the class which is always on the receiving end of bad consequences of climate change is the working class and therefore resolved to fully participate in the coming conference in order to ensure that we not only build consciousness and awareness among the working class and poor youth around climate change and its consequences, but ensure that we influence decisions to be adopted by the conference in order to ensure that they are in favour of the working class and the poor. We pledge our support to the Department of Environmental Affairs to ensure that we marshall young people, we turn young reds into green brigades that will ensure that “Working together, we save tomorrow today”. A detailed programme will be announced on how we will participate in this regard. Issued By YCLSA National Office For more information, please contact Mafika Mndebele (National Spokesperson) Landline: (011) 339 3621 Cellphone: 073 574 5953 Cellphone: 082 567 3557 Email: [email protected] -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
