18 January 2004
The Inaugural Meeting of the National Committee (NC) Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) met on 16-17 January in Johannesburg to review the decisions of the YCLSA Re-establishment Congress (held in December 2003) and to discuss the organisation's programme of action.
DJ Khabzela: the impact of HIV/AIDS on South Africa's youth and the will of South African youth to struggle for a better life
The NC started its proceedings by paying a special tribute for DJ Khabzela (Fana Khaba). The NC met a few days after the tragic death of this famous South African youth symbol. The NC saluted Khabzela as an inspiration to millions of young people: living in and surviving the apartheid and capitalist ghetto to which they are condemned having to live with, and survive the daily reality of poverty, joblessness, homelessness, exposure to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, limited life opportunities and choices, lack of access to quality education, limited skills development opportunities and exposure to crime.
His life from being a taxi-driver to become a nation-wide popular DJ was legendary and shows the resolve of our country's youth to struggle for a better life. His role as a DJ was also important in building a positive image of young people: his social commentary was at the pulse and beat of young people today; he knew their feelings, concerns, interests, fears, aspirations, struggles and hope for the future. His life and death reminds us of the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on our country's youth.
The YCL NC makes a call to all our country's youth to honour the memory of Khabzela by taking part in the struggle against HIV/AIDS including the struggle for the extension of access to information, improvement of the prevention and education campaign, provision of anti-HIV/AIDS drugs and the improvement of the public health system. The YCL believes that the best monument to Khabzela, and many other young people who die from HIV/AIDS related diseases, will be a consistent struggle against the reality of capitalism and the legacy of apartheid. Young people want recreation, free education, skills development, real life opportunities and choices. As Khabzela's life and struggle show, capitalism denies these to young people.
2004 Elections: Young People must Register and Vote ANC
The YCL calls on all young South Africans above the age of 18 to come out in their millions to register as voters next weekend: there is not other chance for them to register and be able to take part in the historic 3rd democratic elections in our country.
Why must young people register and vote? Already, our democratically elected ANC government has changed South Africa for the better and yet there are many challenges:
Like all South Africans, young people have an objective interest with an ANC government which continues to transform and change our country for the better. The ANC Election Manifesto is a strong basis and foundation upon which the needs, interests, concerns and aspirations of young people can be met. By registering as voters and taking part in the election campaign and process, young people will be ensuring that their concerns and views are also taken into account after the elections.
For the YCL, democracy is not just about voting once every 5 years. The YCL wants to see and mobilise young people to be an active part of society and having real power to determine and influence all aspects of their lives: social, cultural, economic, political and so on.
Key YCL activities in the election campaign will include:
1. Mobilisation of young people to register as voters:
2. Mobilisation of young people to vote for the ANC:
In addition, the YCL will be part of the overall ANC-led election campaign and activities.
Forward with the Struggle for Free Public Education
Prior to the 1994 democratic breakthrough, the South African education system reflected all the gross inequalities common to under-developed capitalist countries and was still apartheid era education.
The reality of the majority of South Africans means that all people have a right to free quality public education. For this reason, the YCL is concerned about the need to ensure that education is protected from the neo-liberal agenda which dominates public commentary to the extent of muted suggestions to privatise education and inevitably providing it to those who can afford it.
The impact of neo-liberalism has also included some privatisation of education, which inevitably means decent education only for those who can afford it. In other countries this has been characterised by:
For these reasons, the YCL is discussing a Campaign for Free Quality Public Education. The discussion is looking into the following issues:
The YCL believes that education must emphasise creativity, critical thinking and research skills and co-operative learning. The social and political context of education makes it difficult for these values to be espoused. This means that the only way to realise these values is to struggle against the capitalist education system. A people's education system will be a profoundly collective task as opposed to the competitive nature of schooling in many capitalist countries (the rush for matric success as an example).
The YCL National Working Committee
The YCL National Working Committee was elected as follows:
Contact Buti Manamela
YCL National Secretary
082 222 5474