Issued by: Office of the Executive Deputy President MBEKI
This office strongly condemns the statement issued by the KwaZulu Natal region of the National Party's Youth Action questioning the integrity of Executive Deputy President Thabo Mbeki.
In its statement the NP Youth Action accused Deputy President Mbeki of being responsible for a perceived delay in the establishment of the National Youth Commission and alleged that he was using this delay to enable the National Youth Development Forum to assume the role of a National Youth Commission.
This office dismisses these allegations with contempt. To set the record straight. Deputy President Mbeki did take up the matter of the establishment of a National Youth commission with Cabinet who instructed the Ministry of Justice and not the Ministry of Education, as claimed by the NP Youth Action, to draft legislation, to establish the Commission. This legislation is presently being finalised by the Ministry of Justice.
It is therefore surprising to note that the NP Youth Action is not aware of these important developments.
Furthermore, in its naivete, the NP Youth Action fails to understand that when established, the National Youth Commission would assume the status of a statutory body and would be subjected to same processes that every other piece of legislation has undergone. Hence, it would be impractical for the NYDF to assume the role of a National Youth Commission.
The NP Youth Action is also reminded that the proposal to establish a National Youth Commission was suggested by various youth organisations representing a cross-section of interests. This proposal was accepted last year by the Office of President Nelson Mandela.
We advise the NP Youth Action to cease engaging in petty politicking and to crontribute in a positive manner towards the national struggle for the empowerment and development of all youth in our country.
Issued by: Ricky Naidoo Deputy Director: Communications Tel: 083 555 5189 Date: 17 August 1995