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The ANCYL in the province wishes to commend the provincial leadership of the ANC for the sterling organizational work it has done this far ever since its election at the 7th provincial conference held in Upington ,2012. The fact that the leadership is now at a point whereby it is in a position to convene a mid-term provincial general council (PGC) is clearly a sign of dedication and commitment to the work of the organisation on their part. Ever since its election, this leadership has continued to unite the ANC in the province, re-build structures where they were dysfunctional or non-existent, provide support to the ANCYL during its rebuilding process to a point whereby the YL now has duly elected regional and provincial structures.

The ANC under the current leadership has managed, and continues, to regain support in areas which the organisation had previously lost support to the opposition. This is evidenced by the ANC’s winning of bi-elections whenever and wherever they are held in any part of the province. The hands on approach by the provincial leadership in terms of interventions to address challenges facing local municipalities in the province is also commendable. It is through such approaches that the ANC in the province shall achieve its objective of moving the province forward and creating a better life for all in the Northern Cape.

As the ANCYL we make these assertions cognizant of the fact that one of the fundamental reasons of convening a PGC is to take stock of the progress made in implementing the resolutions of the 7th provincial conference and carrying out of the election manifesto promises of the ANC during the 2011 local and 2014 national government elections. We are confident that as branches will be given an opportunity to hold their provincial leadership to account during the forthcoming PGC, these are some of the positive issues they will surely reflect on.

The ANCYL has however noted with great concern, the clandestine activities of those within and outside the structures of the movement, which seek to undermine the good progress made by the current provincial leadership of the ANC to unite the organisation in the province and maintain stability within its structures. We wish to state it unequivocally that these elements don’t have the interest of the movement at heart but only hold they own personal ambitions above of those organisation. What is quite alarming, and regrettable because of the confidence the membership has on the leadership, is that some amongst the leadership of the ANC in the province are even prepared to mortgage their political responsibility to the highest bidder in business for purposes of their expedient economic needs.

It is not a secret that the PGC will also be a platform to fill vacancies which exist in the top five and the PEC itself. As the YL we see nothing wrong with individuals within the organisation having leadership preference leading up to the PGC, we are however appaulled by the actions of certain leaders and members of the ANC, who have resorted to the tactics of dispensing patronage and blackmailing ordinary members in order to advance the names of their preferred candidates.

The ANCYL wants to reiterate the warning by the secretary general of the ANC, cde Gwede Mantashe, who said that those who have the privilege of being entrusted with the responsibility of leading our movement, at any level, should resist the temptation of allowing business people to meddle in the internal affairs of the ANC, due to their indebtedness to such business people. If such reckless actions are allowed to manifest themselves in our organisation, it will lead to a creation of an environment where the unity of the organisation can be easily threatened and put in jeopardy, to the detriment of our revolutionary responsibility of moving the Northern Cape forward and creating a better life for all.

Careerist from within who define themselves outside the framework of a collective with a sole intention of delegitimizing ANC systems on lobbying processes, by trotting from one region to the other spreading lies with their poisonous tongue only because they want to secure their positions are hard at work to reverse the gains the ANC has made in the province. This unbecoming behavior by comrades who have an uncontrollable appetite and zeal for power and who are steadfast in undermining and disrespecting the chairpersons and secretaries forum, which is a committee established to give credence to the lobbying processes is quite disturbing, if one has to be euphemistic about it.

The ANCYL expresses uttermost disgust at this myopic and lethargic tendencies which run parallel to agreed ANC uniformity and approach towards the Provincial General Council . The ANCYL will jealously guard against careerism, regionalism, and tribalism. We will wage a relentless war against factionalism and the disrespect of ANC processes.

The ANCYL is unapologetic of the fact that since its formation in 1944 it has been, and still believes it has to continue being, a significant body of opinion within the ANC. This radical attitude is informed by the fundamental objectives behind the formation of the ANCYL by the gallant generation of Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Mxolisi Majobosi, AP Mda, Robert Resha and many of our founding forefathers, which was to mobilise young people behind the banner and vision of the ANC. It must however be carefully acknowledged that an elected leadership of the ANCYL not only has the responsibility of mobilizing the youth behind the banner and vision of the ANC, but also it has the reciprocal responsibility of correctly advocating for the interests and aspirations of the very youth it has mobilized. It therefore should not come as an irritation to others that the YL has an interest in the decisions of the forthcoming PGC, including who stands to be elected to fill the existing vacancies within the top five and the PEC as a whole.

Because we have gone through, and are in fact still undergoing, a rebuilding phase where we have self-introspected and have taken the correct advice given by the leadership of our movement, we choose to conduct ourselves within the confines of the constitution of our beloved movement. Any self-respecting member of the ANC should therefore understand our vehement discontent with some leaders of the ANC who seem to have complete disregard for the rules, principles, traditions and the culture of our movement when it comes to conferences, elective or otherwise.

The ANCYL has previously made its pronouncement with regard to the filling of the Provincial Treasurer vacancy within the PEC, and we continue to support the name of comrade Crizelda Cjikela-Lecholo as our preferred candidate. The broader membership of the ANCYL in the province have managed to correctly use the BGM processes to engage branches around this perspective and we can report that the majority of the branches in the province have responded positively to our view as the ANCYL. Members of the ANC in good standing across the province have put their foot down and have declared, through their nomination of Cde Crizelda Cjikela-Lecholo, that the ANC is not for sale to highest bidder in business.

The ANCYL in the province wishes the ANC a very politically progressive and peaceful PGC. We continue to pledge our support towards provincial leadership of the ANC, the leadership which has been exemplary in the country on issues of unity, political stability, performance during national and provincial elections, service delivery to our people and advancing the revolutionary objectives of the ANC of moving South Africa forward and creating a better life for all.

Issued by: The African National Congress Youth League
Northern Cape Province