Youth Rock the Vote: Vote ANC! Young Communist League to Launch Elections message in the West Rand

25 March 2004

On Sunday, 28 March, the Young Communist League, the youth wing of the South African Communist Party (SACP), will hold a national elections rally to launch its elections message and call to young South Africans. "We are actively mobilising young people to vote for the ANC as the only political party which can listen to, and address their needs", said Buti Manamela, YCL National Secretary.

The rally will be held as follows:

Date - Sunday, 28 March 2004
Venue - Khutsong Stadium, Carltonville, West Rand District, Gauteng Province
Time - 10h30 to 13h00

Speakers at the rally:

• Gwede Mantashe - Member of the SACP Political Bureau & General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers
• Buti Manamela - National Secretary of the YCL
• Leaders of COSATU, ANC, SACP, ANCYL, SASCO and COSAS
• Young people themselves - where they will have an opportunity to ask questions and make comments to the SACP, YCL, ANC and other organisations
• There will also be cultural performances (poetry, music and traditional dance) by local groups from the West Rand

This rally will be followed by a Red Youth Offensive from 29 March to 8 April which will include more rallies, door to door work, the Youth Rock da Vote Party on 2 April, young people's forums and extensive media work.

Through its elections message and campaign, the YCL is calling on all young people in to ensure that each and every one of their voices counts by voting for the ANC on 14 April. "We, as young people, must make our voices heard in the 14 April elections. We have clear needs and interests. We want a good future and a better life now. We want employment, an end to crime and a caring government which listens to us. The ANC is the only caring political party which can listen to our voice and which has a good record in government", continued Manamela.

The YCL believes that the ANC election manifesto commits the ANC to support and assist young people. The ANC commits to create 1 million work opportunities. For the ANC manifesto to be effective, young people must take part in national life. For the ANC to work with and for young people, young people must be organised.

The Young Communist League says to South African youth:

VOTE ANC for a better today and tomorrow
VOTE ANC: Make Democracy work more for the Youth!

The opposition parties are not for the youth. The DA wants to protect apartheid privileges. By calling for privatisation of education, the DA wants to deny us a chance to quality public education. The DA calls for closing down of SETAs (agencies for education and skills training).

Other opposition parties promise things they can never be in a position to achieve. That's cheating young people! Young people will not be cheated.

CONTACT

Buti Manamela
National Secretary, Young Communist League
Cell - 082 567 3557
Tel - 011 339 3621