Newly elected leaders of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) join hands in unity on stage during the 27th National Congress, reaffirming their commitment to economic freedom and social change. Picture Credit: Facebook
By Thulane Madalane
Polokwane: As Collen Malatji takes the helm as President of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), his leadership signals a renewed commitment to tackling the pressing socio-economic challenges facing South Africa. In a recent statement, Malatji praised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to declare gender-based violence a national disaster but urged that the government recognize unemployment and economic inequality as disasters of equal magnitude.
“We welcome the declaration on gender-based violence, but we must also confront the realities of unemployment and economic restructuring as disasters in their own right,” said Malatji. “It is untenable that 20% of the population controls 80% of the economy, while the vast majority depend on a shrinking minority—this situation is a disaster waiting to unfold.”
Malatji poignantly underscored how unemployment affects personal dignity and social inclusion, stating, “We often say, ‘How do you date without data?’ But I ask, ‘How do you date when you’re unemployed?’ Even in family circles, unemployed youth are often excluded because they have nothing to contribute.” This reflection highlights the social fabric’s strain beyond the economic statistics.
Malatji’s election, alongside the new National Office Bearers—Deputy President Francisco Dyantyi, Secretary General Tsakani Tshivhiti, and others—is being hailed as a historic moment by the ANCYL Gauteng, which pledged its full support for this militant youth leadership committed to advancing economic freedom and social justice.
The 27th National Congress of the ANCYL clearly marks a milestone in the organisation’s long history of activism and radical political engagement. Established on April 2, 1944, by pioneering leaders including Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, and Walter Sisulu, the Youth League’s founding mission was to galvanize young South Africans in the fight against segregation and oppression.
The Youth League’s initial manifesto, launched at Johannesburg’s Bantu Social Centre in 1944, asserted the principle of Africanism, calling on African youth to unite and become disciplined leaders of the liberation struggle. Their motto, “Africa’s cause must triumph,” became a rallying cry for decades of resistance.
Following its establishment, the ANCYL developed a revolutionary Programme of Action endorsing protests, strikes, and boycotts. In 1949, the ANC adopted this programme, setting the stage for landmark campaigns like the 1952 Defiance Campaign, which challenged apartheid laws with mass civil disobedience, deeply shaped by Youth League activism.
The Freedom Charter, adopted in 1955 at the Congress of the People in Kliptown, represented a transformative vision for South Africa, championing equality and democracy. Though it caused divisions within the Youth League—particularly between those aligned with the Charter and the Africanist faction led by Robert Sobukwe—the ANCYL remained a vital force in anti-apartheid efforts.
The untimely death of Anton Lembede in 1947 left a leadership void, and political repression, such as the Treason Trial, along with ideological splits, challenged the organisation’s cohesion during the 1950s. The breakaway of the Africanist faction to form the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in 1959 and the tragedy of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre are key moments in the struggle that have shaped the league’s path.
Now, as Collen “Noko” Malatji leads a revitalised ANCYL, the organisation recommits itself to its foundational principles—mobilising youth for freedom, equality, and economic emancipation. With Gauteng’s ANCYL and others poised to support a militant and united front, the league is set to play a critical role in addressing the country’s economic disparities and social injustices.
The newly elected national officials are:
- President: Collen Malatji (Gauteng)
- Deputy President: Francisco Dyantyi (Eastern Cape)
- Secretary General: Tsakani Tshivhiti (Limpopo)
- 1st Deputy Secretary General: Zama Khanyase (Kwazulu Natal)
- 2nd Deputy Secretary General: Venus Blennies (Northern Cape)
- Treasurer General: Jacob Tau (Mpumalanga)
As the ANCYL approaches its future, inspired by its storied past and visionary youth leadership, South Africa’s fight for a just and equitable society continues with renewed energy and determination.
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