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The youth of South Africa, represented by the African National
Congress Youth League, have made an unequivocal declaration that
Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe must be elected as President of the African
National Congress at the 53rd National Conference. They have also
called upon Comrade Fikile Mbalula, the Former President of the ANC
Youth League, to ascend to the position of Secretary-General of the
African National Congress in order lead the organization decisively in
the programme towards Economic Freedom in our Lifetime.

These nominations, both of which were unopposed, were made at the
National Nominating Meeting of the ANC Youth League held on the 22nd
November 2012 at St. George’s Hotel, Irene, Gauteng. The National
Nominating Meeting was attended by members of the National Executive
Committee of the ANCYL and delegates representing all provinces. It
was presided over by an Election Commission led by Veterans Comrade
Wessi Seekoe and Mme Sophie de Bruyn, processes of nomination and
voting were administered by an independent elections agency. This
detail is important because, the decisions of the National Nominating
Meeting reflect the official views of the ANC Youth League on
leadership, these decisions were arrived at through a fair, credible
and inclusive process and are binding on all members of the
organization.

The African National Congress Youth League participated in the process
of nomination of leadership of the ANC cognizant of the fact that to
do so is to also reaffirm our confidence in and loyalty to the African
National Congress. We have also reaffirmed the central tenant of the
Strategy and Tactics that what the ANC stands for is what the ANC is.
Thus, we uphold the values of unity and democracy and have committed
ourselves to respect the outcomes of the Mangaung conference,
regardless of which ideas emerge victorious. We will work tirelessly
to lobby across all sectors of society and in all corners of South
Africa, speaking to young and old, friend and foe, for the leadership
collective we have nominated to be elected by members of the ANC in
Mangaung. Following the 53rd National Conference, together with all
members of the ANC, we will work with the elected leadership to bring
about a better life for all. On our programme of action we will never
retreat and our confidence that the leaders we are nominating are
ideally suited to deliver it is unquestionable.

Following intensive and robust discussions where young people
deliberated at length on the best cadres in the movement to take
forward the organization to the next 100 hundred years, intact and
united; young people of South Africa are united behind a collective
that represents the necessary fearlessness, energy and experience
required to drive the programme for urgent and radical change demanded
by the masses of our people. The future of the ANC and the future of
South Africa is therefore constituted as follows:

President:                                  Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe

Deputy President:                       Comrade Matthews Phosa

Secretary-General:                      Comrade Fikile Mbalula

Deputy Secretary-General:           Comrade Thenjiwe Mtintso

Treasurer-General:                       Comrade Tokyo Sexwale

National Chairperson:                   Comrade Thandi Modise


The ANC Youth League will also support former leaders of the ANC Youth
League and other ANC members who share our perspective on the
Programme of Action towards Economic Freedom in our Life for
additional member positions of the ANC National Executive Committee.

We call upon all our structures to fight side by side by members of
the ANC to ensure that these ideas find expression in the final
outcomes of conference. Structures that do not participate in the
process of nomination or voting including MKMVA, COSATU and others
should allow democracy in action to reign supreme and desist from
threats of intimidation. The youth has spoken, our leaders have been
called, victory is certain.