* * *3RD NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS*
*PHATSIMANG (NIHE) COLLEGE – NORTHERN CAPE* *CONGRESS DECLARATION* *DATE: 30 - 31 March – 01 April 2012* The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) in the Northern Cape Northern Cape convened its 3rd Provincial Congress on 30 - 31 March till 01 April 2012 under the theme: *“Towards 2013: Marking Ten Years of building momentum towards, capacity for, elements for socialism in our lifetime!”* * * The congress is convening after the successful 4th SACP Provincial Congress which was held in December 2011, where the YCLSA delegates appreciated the meaningful engagements and observed the high revolutionary morale and discipline demonstrated by the delegates for the success of the Party; also convening after the YCLSA National Lekgotla held in Johannesburg, which charted the way forward and develop a program for the YCLSA for the year 2012. The 3rd Congress brought together 150 delegates representing almost 2000 membership and the full compliment of the five (5) districts of the YCLSA in province as per the official demarcations of the province, Part of the congress was the Basil February District which held its launching Congress few weeks ago, a political milestone that all YCLSA members should be proud of. The 3rd Congress was also honoured with the presence of representatives of the Provincial Youth Alliance (PYA) formations, COSATU and the SACP. The congress was officially opened by the Provincial Chairperson, comrade Sivuyile Ntamehlo and comrade Kabelo Mohibidu, the provincial secretary presented the Political and Organization Reports on behalf of the 2ndCongress Provincial Executive Committee (PEC). Congress also received the treasure’s report from the Provincial Treasurer, comrade Kagisho Alamu. Both the Political and Organizational Reports outlined detailed account of the work done by the organization and all its structures based on the adopted POA in 2008, which emerged from the 2nd Provincial Congress. The 3 rd Congress also noted that, the organization (YCLSA) has since grown and the growth in numbers has brought its own challenges especially if members are not shaped during the transition of belonging to a Party (working class) organization with different values and ethos of selflessness and service to the working class and the poor. The 3rd Congress received messages of support from comrade James Tom of South African Student Congress (SASCO) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) was represented by comrade Sibusiso September* * ** Congress also received message of support from the Congress of South African Trade Unions in the Northern Cape (COSATU) represented by the Provincial Secretary, comrade Anele Gxoyiya. The 3rd Congress was further addressed by comrade Norman Shushu, the Provincial Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Northern Cape. In his address, he took the congress back ten years ago to the 11th congress of the party in Rustenburg where it was resolved that the YCLSA to be re-launched in our country. ‘Today, we need to ask ourselves what kind of young communist do we seek to build, maybe different from the new tendency and populist demagogues’. He further said that the YCLSA branches should give guidance to YCLSA members and the people we lead in relation to the ideological and political line of the party, beginning with the most cardinal questions facing communists and the revolutionary masses. The 3rd Congress also observed and noted that the party and the YCLSA cadres throughout the province must participate effectively in all the alliance formations to ensure that working class perspectives find expression in all these formations. The Commissions reports which synthesized various debates and discussions which developed resolutions to be taken forward by the structures of the YCLSA in conjunction with allied formations, such as the PYA and others. The 3rd Congress observed that the YCLSA in the province should intensify its campaigns over-ally, including ‘making education fashionable’. The 3rd Congress among others, resolved to: 1. Demand the establishment (in government) of an platform/initiative that will coordinate and cut across government departments’ efforts towards skilling young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which will streamline the acquisition of these important skills for young people in the province, in line with our call to make ‘education fashionable’ – this we belief, also aligns with some of the proposals contained in the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Green Paper for Post-School Education and Training, around Community Education and Training Centre 2. Call for efforts towards intensification of youth service and voluntarism in society generally, to build internationalist patriotism, which embraces values and ethos of anti-imperialism and anti-capitalism 3. Ensure concrete political education relevant to aspirant young communist to ensure ongoing working class perspectives find expression in all spheres of society 4. Campaign for a non-fee dispensation for all South Africans upon applying for an Identification Document (ID), i.e. no fees must be charged upon South Africans applying for the ID because this document is also a key document for purposes of the states registration of citizens and other related matters such as services which the state is obliged to provide for citizens, who in the main comprise working class and the poor 5. Work together with the SACP towards a project to retrace the History of both the SACP and the YCLSA in the province since the re-launch of both Provincial structures. Conclusion Youth and students – join the fight! The history of South Africa shows we are a radical and progressive force. Now is the time for youth and students to unite with the working people! Now is the time to build resistance against capitalist agenda and they lackeys, demanding peoples’ alternative – socialism! We demand rights. Peace! Jobs! Education! Equality! We declare our solidarity and join the fight of all those who want to build a stronger youth and students’ movement to fight for real change leading to a better South Africa and a better world – which is Socialism! This is our future, and our fight! -- 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] .
