*Young Communist League of South Africa* *Third Congress National Committee *
*Statement of the Eighth Plenary Session* *15-17 November 2013, Johannesburg* The Young Communist League of South Africa, YCLSA [uFasimba] convened the Eighth Plenary Session of the Third Congress National Committee from 15-17 November in Johannesburg. The National Committee is the highest decision-making body if the YCLSA in between four-yearly national congresses and councils, and met after a highly successful 2nd National Council held in July, Kimberly, Northern Cape. The meeting assessed the work undertaken following the 2nd National Council and conducted an annual review of the period starting November 2012 since the last National Lekgotla which constituted the 6th Plenary Session of the Third Congress National Committee. The meeting discussed the challenges facing our society, inter alia high levels of in equality, unemployment and poverty, coupled with lack of access to skills development opportunities, apprenticeships, learnerships, internships and experiential training. All of these and other challenges weigh heavily on the youth. Rather than the ANC-led administration, these challenges are primarily the results of centuries- and decades-long capitalist exploitation, colonial and apartheid oppression. This is reflected in the fact those who suffer the most are Africans in particular and black people in general with women being the worst affected. The National Committee appreciates that since our democratic transition in 1994 the democratic movement and revolutionary alliance as led by the ANC has made significant advances in both democratising the country and improving the quality of life of millions of our people and the youth for the better. However, there is still a lot that needs to be done to reverse the results of the centuries- and decades-long capitalist exploitation, colonial and apartheid oppression. Unfortunately, some of the major policies adopted in the post-1994 have not assisted us and count as part of the secondary factors responsible for the reproduction of the colonial era contradictions persisting in our society. *Our programme of action* The National Committee has adopted a programme of action for the period November 2013 – December 2014. Among others, the YCLSA will intensify the struggles of young people against the system of capitalist exploitation and the elimination of all the traces of the colonial and apartheid era. In Particular, the National Committee adopted a programme of action anchored on mass mobilisation to confront the capitalist class. This includes marches and pickets to take place under the banners of the Jobs for Youth Campaign and our newly adopted Economic Transformation Campaign. Our demands are, among others a ratio of three apprenticeships for every artisan, three internships or experiential trainees for every technician and engineer, the adoption of similar on-the-job training targets for all other professions and compulsory graduate development programmes. We will also be mobilising for the enforcement of the youth employment targets that are contained in the Youth Employment Accord and demand the expansion of these targets in the private sector, which in our view has evaded responsibility and accountability for its actions. Our Jobs for Youth and Economic Transformation campaigns will also be directed at the state. In this regard will not only call for an active interventionist role in the interest of the youth, particularly the workers, the unemployment and the poor. We will take to the streets our opposition against policies such the Youth Wage Subsidy which has now been codified in the recently introduced Employment Tax Incentive. The money that the state set aside to enrich the capitalist class through these scheme could be better used to increase support for meaningful workplace skills development programmes such as apprenticeships, learnerships, internships and experiential training. The YCLSA will also be taking forward its Joe Slovo Right to Learn to build on the successes of our democratic transition, expanding access and success, pursuing redress and therefore combating financial, academic and other forms of exclusion. We will intensify our campaign against drug and alcohol abuse. Linked with the Joe Slovo Right to Learn Campaign, we will shutdown liquor outlets that are located next to schools. As the YCLSA we fully support government intentions to ban alcohol advertising. We are also calling on the state to fortify its fight against drugs. In our view, while correct focus must not only be placed on the tail end of the chain but must shutdown roots of entry and production sites. *Voter registration * The National Committee discussed the outcomes of the recent voter registration weekend. In particular we have noted with concern that, as stated by the IEC: “While the number of registered voters aged 18 – 19 almost tripled from 167 535 prior to the weekend to 434 370 today, the registration percentage of 22.6% remains the lowest for all age groups and presents an on-going challenge for all South Africans to encourage a new generation of voters to participate as we celebrate our 20th anniversary of democracy. The National Committee further noted that the voter registration weekend coincided with year-end examinations in schools, colleges and universities. The majority of young people in these sectors were focused on examinations. We call on the IEC to provide certainty, expedite processes and finalise the details of the second voter registration weekend. Meanwhile, the National Committee called on all young people to go to IEC’s municipal offices to get registered to vote ANC. *The Public Protector is embedded* The National Committee discussed the conduct of the Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela. The YCLSA fully supports the objectives for which the Office of the Public Protector was created as one of the Chapter 9 institutions in our constitution as well as the need for an activist Public Protector. We are however concerned that Madonsela’s behaviour leaves much to be desired. The manner in which she has handled the reports on the IEC Chairperson Pansy Tlakula and security upgrades at the home of President Jacob Zuma in Nkandla clearly shows that she is serving sectional interests and has therefore compromised the standing of the Office of the Public Protector. It is our view that using the media and a report that is yet to be released in a manner that casts aspersions on some of the affected people who have not been given such a report amounts to abuse of state power and constitutes a serious violation of their rights. In particular, why would Madonsela, who has insisted that she is accountable to parliament, say that she does not know where to submit the Nkandla report and that the people will be disappointed things are not as bad as they seemed? There can be no reason whatsoever why the people, except a sections that Madonsela is serving, would like things to turn out to be bad. Madonsela’s response in the Mail & Guardian to SACP statement on this matter is pathetic to say the least. Her association with the DA since she attended its rally August last year seems to have turned her into an embedded Public Protector. *Issued by YCLSA Head Office* *For more information contact:* Khaya Xaba YCLSA National Spokesperson Cell: 071 115 4619 @chedetachment @YCLSA www.ycl.org.za -- -- 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] . --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "YCLSA Discussion Forum" group. 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