The African National Congress (ANC) should heed the call for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to take over the party reins for the "unity and success of the glorious movement", the Young Communist League (YCL) has said.

"We must salute Cosatu [Congress of South African Trade Unions] for resolving and pronouncing its support for comrade Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma at the national conference of the ANC in 2017," YCL chairperson Yershen Pillay said in a speech prepared for delivery at its third national council in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Discussions should focus on rebuilding and reuniting the movement. The trade union federation had been right about numerous things, including e-tolls and the youth wage subsidy, he said.

"But the ANC chose not to listen."

Pillay asked if Cosatu would again be right in backing Ramaphosa as the best leader to unite the mass democratic movement and advance the interests of the poor, working class.

'State power'

The YCL should discuss if its role would be to shout loud enough so that the ANC would listen to Cosatu, he said.

The role of the South African Communist Party in the current political climate and whether it should contest elections was another important topic of discussion.

"The party must take the bold and decisive decision to contest state power as a party of power. Which communist party in the world today does not contest for state power? The answer is none. Why should the SACP be any different given the current senile state of the ANC?

"And when would be the right time for the party to do so, given our own shortcomings as well as the low levels of political and class consciousness in society?"

Pillay paid tribute to former Cuban leader Fidel Castro during his address.

On Friday, Ramaphosa and Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini would address the council.