ANCYL hails World Bank report

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

Deputy president of the ANC Youth League Ronald Lamola. Photo: Mujahid Safodien

Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League on Tuesday claimed vindication for its views on race and wealth following the release of a World Bank report on Tuesday.

“The point we have made over and over again (is) that the legacy of years of colonisation and a lacklustre approach to dealing decisively with issues of redistribution of wealth within this country perpetuate a white minority,” the league said in a statement.

The World Bank report, “Inequality of Opportunity in SA”, found that the circumstances a child was born into, ethnicity, location, gender, and family background, variably affected the child’s access to basic opportunities.

The report found that in particular location and ethnicity were important factors determining inequality in employment opportunities later in life.

“This raises the prospect of a vicious cycle of adverse circumstances that compounds inequalities over multiple stages in South Africa,” reads the report.

While welcoming the document, the league also called the World Bank “a pinnacle of global imperialism”.

It criticised the Democratic Alliance, Afriforum “and others who taunt our people by coming with unrealistic proposals”, based on a liberal or reactionary policies.

“ 1/8T 3/8heir liberal and even reactionary policies are designed to maintain the status quo,” the statement read.

The ANCYL called on the government to use the report and implement policies to redress inequality. It also called on the World Bank to make a financial commitment towards South Africa for this end.

The league said it would push for the redistribution of mineral wealth at the ANC's elective conference in December in Mangaung. - Sapa