YCLSA Northern Cape Press Statement August 12, 2012 YCL NORTHERN PEC STATEMENT The Provincial Executive Committee of the Young Communist League of South Africa held its 1st plenary session of the 3rd PEC over the weekend. The meeting was addressed by the national chairperson of the YCLSA comrade Yershen Pillay as well as the provincial secretary of the SACP Cde Mahobe Shushu. The PEC amongst other things discussed the international capitalist crisis, national and provincial political developments, and the state of our organisation, the skills trajectory in the province and our ongoing organisational programmes as part of the implementation of the 3rd Provincial Congress Resolutions. On the Youth Wage Subsidy The Provincial Executive Committee discussed the recent developments on the proposed Youth Wage Subsidy. The YCLSA in the province rejects the Youth Wage Subsidy and support the National Committee decision in this regard and affirms the decision of the recent ANC Policy Conference with regards to the Youth Wage Subsidy and the need for a comprehensive measures dealing with youth unemployment. We see this as yet another possible bail-out for business which is likely to finance labour costs which has a major effect on their already huge profits. We cannot support R5billion capital injection to monopoly capital, while we have a huge skills demand in the province and in the country. The Provincial Executive Committee agreed that the proposed budget allocation for the Youth Wage Subsidy must be used for example to develop requisite skills and the re-skilling of unemployable graduates. We therefore call for the review of the current skills strategy and the need to do skills audit in the Province and the Country. On the Relationship with the SACP The Provincial Executive Committee discussed its relation between the SACP and YCLSA. This is informed by the mis-conception and an attack by some elements within and outside the broader movement as well as the neo-liberal offensive in the current conjuncture. We are the YCLSA of the SACP and derive our existence from the SACP, and not the other way around. We are not the friends of the South African Communist Party, we are the preparatory school of the SACP and remain a Marxist-Leninist youth organization and the Youth Wing of the SACP. Through conviction we remain the YCLSA of the South African Communist Party. To this charge we plead guilty. On Education As the YCLSA we remain committed in making education fashionable. We welcome the correct decision on the location of the university and we will continue to mobilise our people around the name as well the shape and character of the university. The Provincial Executive Committee made an in-depth analysis on the state of education in general. The textbook crisis across the country remains a concern of the YCLSA, not only in Limpopo and we support the President`s approach in this regard to deal with it. We also take note of neo-liberals and their apologists. Statements by the likes of Dr Mamphela Ramphela, Prof. Jansen, Prof. Barney Pityane and self imposed analysts such as Prince Mashele are key concern for us. The notion and believe by some of these “former black consciousness” leaders that apartheid education was better than the current education is appalling and an attempt to remain relevant, while seeking popularity and project our government as incapable. We call for a transformation in the composition of the Premiers Trust Fund Board as well as the funding mechanism. There is a need to re-prioritise the awarding of bursaries taking into account the trajectory of skills requisites. The Provincial Executive Committee believes that the current loan system is not effective and will lobby to change the Premiers Bursary Trust Fund to become a comprehensive bursary prioritising child headed households and poorer students. On the Unity of the Progressive Youth Formations On the Progressive Youth Alliance the Provincial Executive Committee noted the instability and lack of coherence within the PYA in the province. The PYA remains relevant in mobilising young people behind the NDR and its inability to discharge this revolutionary responsibility it’s a grave concern. In our view the changing of political landscape nationally has had an impact on the relation of the PYA in the province and our principle stance on many contemporary issues has not helped this relation either. The Provincial Executive Committee resolved to continuously work tirelessly in ensuring that the PYA in the Northern Cape is strengthened and functional. We regard the so called “Friends of the Youth League”, as an enemy that seeks to destabilise the PYA and the movement in general. This group of tenderpreneurs, sushi-kings, bling followers and off-spring of the 1996 class projects should not be given space. The sub-culture of earn a quick buck mentality which should be thwarted so that its intention of replacing education, ill-discipline must not be allowed to find expression in the PYA, particularly COSAS and SASCO. On the NYDA We are calling on the President to consider experience, continuity and skill in appointing the new national board of the NYDA with young people who are immersed in the daily struggles of young people. As the YCLSA, we believe that the new board must be representative of all South Africans, irrespective of their colour and we hope that they will set in motion a process to review and prepare for the appointment of the Provincial Boards. On Substance Abuse The Provincial Executive Committee discussed at length the impact of substance abuse in our communities. Substance abuse has emerged as a key enemy of the democratic advances and has had a huge impact in the province. The De Aar area and other areas in the Province need a comprehensive response and this we will raise with various stakeholders on the developments of dealing with the Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in the area. It us our view that the issuing of licenses to taverns and `shebeens` needs to be reviewed. We will engage the Northern Cape Liquor Board and the Department of Safety and Liaison in dealing with substance abuse in our communities. The Provincial Executive Committee will mobilize and work tirelessly in campaigning against the existence of shebeens and taverns close to our schools. On Provincial Government We need urgent, speedy and radical implementation of the five priorities accompanied by improved, continues and effective communication with the masses about what our revolutionary and progressive government is doing. We need to see and feel the texture of service delivery for our people. We call our provincial government to stop convening summits or such platforms not because the mobilization and dialogue is not important but we think the urgent focus should be on implementation. We need our provincial government to provide leadership more so on all major infrastructure projects taking place in our province for the benefit of the working class and the poor and not for the continues benefit of big capital extracting our minerals and shipping them out. Issued by and on behalf YCLSA Provincial Executive Committee For more information contact: Tumi Setshogela YCL Northern Cape Spokesperson Cell: 082 9716658
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