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We need a youth league that will match the EFF – Zamani Saul

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Northern Cape ANC chairperson Dr Zamani Saul, during the closing of the provincial general council on Monday, said the party needs a ’disruptive and vibrant’ youth league that will match the EFF.

ANC provincial chairperson Zamani Saul during the closing of the provincial general council at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre. Picture: Soraya Crowie

NORTHERN Cape ANC chairperson Dr Zamani Saul, during the closing of the provincial general council on Monday, said the party needs a “disruptive and vibrant” youth league that will match the EFF.

Saul was addressing provincial party members, including provincial ANC Youth League members, during the closing of the two-day council at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley.

Saul said that the decline in young voters and support for the party is very concerning.

“We are losing the young votes. The urban and middle-class youth do not vote for the ANC. The most constructive structure to mobilise the youth is the ANCYL. The youth league should uncompromisingly fight for the rights of the youth and ensure that the youth rally behind the banner of the ANC. If they fail to do that, then the EFF will do exactly that which the youth league fails to do,” said Saul.

He urged older party members to make room for the youth in leadership positions.

“The youth league must be an irritation to the mature leaders and members. They must make us sweat during conferences. They should unapologetically raise issues affecting the youth, factors such as the high youth unemployment rate. When they raise these matters, they should hold us at ransom until there is a plan to solve these matters. The youth league should not be lapdogs of the organisation. Our responsibility as leaders is to mould the youth. However, they should be given the freedom to act and say thighs like young people.”

He also cautioned older members against trying to exercise control over the youth league and its members.

“We are still suffering from our impatience we had with Julius Malema. We are still in recovery from that. We must be careful not to make that same mistake again. We need to get the critical mass of the movement, which is our youth, back.

“We also need a youth league that will be the perfect match for the EFF, which is a radical and fighting ANCYL that is engaged and focussed on the values of the ANC,” said Saul.

ANC members attend the provincial general council. Picture: Soraya Crowie
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