Press statement of the National Interim Steering Committee of the Young Communist League Of South Africa (YCL).
The 11th congress of the South African Communist Party (SACP) resolved to re-establish the Young Communist League as the youth organisation or formation of the SACP.
Therefore, the YCL derives its political and ideological perspective from the SACP. Therefore its challenge is to provide a political and organisational platform and home for young communists.
One of its key objectives is to spread socialist ideas and organisation amongst South African youth.Our belief is that capitalism is no solution to the problems facing the youth of our country.
Members of the Interim National Steering Committee (NSC) of the YCL and representatives from provinces met at the University of Pretoria, Hammanskraal campus on the 21st and 22nd of March 2003.
The meeting considered and resolved on the following issues: That the SACP resolution to re-launch YCL is becoming a reality in the country, confirmed by the positive and speedy processes in provinces of launching committees at provincial, district and branch levels. We are particularly impressed by the response from institutions of higher learning. The NSC has resolved to establish branches in institutions of higher learning and workplaces.
These developments prove that the youth of South Africa are receptive to the principles, ideas and values of socialism and indeed augurs well for the struggle for and the future of socialism in our country. The NSC reaffirmed and confirmed its commitment to socialism and communism, which distinguishes it from any other youth formation in South Africa .
We are proud to pronounce our commitment to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) and socialism as defined and articulated by the SACP. We have resolved to work with as well as to build and strengthen existing fraternal organisations, the ANC Youth League, Cosas, Sasco, Suca and YCS in order to strengthen the Progressive Youth Alliance and the broad youth movement in South Africa .
Our relationship with these organisations is based on our common and shared perspectives on the National Democratic Revolution. The YCL believes that the NDR provides and creates a solid and direct route to socialism.
We have adopted programmes on HIV/Aids, fighting unemployment and education. These programmes will be officially launched towards the end of the first half of this year, as part of the build up towards the launch. In the meantime our provinces are busy with preparations for the 10th anniversary commemorations of the late SACP General Secretary Comrade Chris Hani and involved in the Chris Hani Poverty Eradication Trail by registering qualifying people and children to receive state social security grants.
As part of the 10th anniversary commemorations of the late SACP General Secretary Comrade Martin Thembisile Hani (Chris), the YCL NSC is to embark on a mobilisation programme of young communists to participate in the registration of social grants for children. We particularly note and welcome the government's age extension from below seven years to seven and eight years.
In this regard we are engaging several youth formations in the coming weeks to join us. The YCL NSC has resolved to establish launch committees at all levels at least by the end of May 2003 in provinces, districts and branches where this is not yet done.
YCL will hold a National Consultative Conference in July 2003 in Gauteng to adopt a programme of action to intensify activities towards its launch. This will be followed by the National Launching Congress in the first week of December 2003. The NSC has circulated various discussion documents to provinces and amongst others, a document on the probation period for membership of the YCL intended to build ideal cadres who uphold communist morality and values.
This is to challenge the capitalist culture of corruption, lack of commitment and sacrifice to the downtrodden and poor people, greed and rampant obsession with material gain. These issues pose a serious threat to the future of the progressive movement and socialist morality.
The NSC of the YCL strongly believes that its existence as the only communist youth organisation in South Africa will provide a platform to all young communists in fraternal organisations to contribute to a coherent and systematic conscientisation of youth on socialism and its benefits.
The meeting discussed the international situation, in particular the USA led imperialist attacks against Iraq on the one hand and Israel 's continued aggression against Palestine .
In this case we join all progressive forces across the globe and support the position of the SACP to condemn these attacks as unwarranted, greedy, and self-serving to the national interests of the United States of America and the greedy trans-national corporations.
Furthermore, we are outraged by the total disregard for multi-lateralism, dialogue and also the hypocrisy of the aggressors in this war of economic interests. By taking over Iraq and installing their puppet government, the US government will ensure access to the second largest reserves of oil in the world for the coming hundred years.
We pledge our unwavering commitment to internationalism and solidarity with the youth of Iraq and Palestine who are daily maimed and live in fear of bombs of the aggressors led by the USA .
27 March 2003
Source
Numsa News