Robust debate expected at ANCYL congress

Western Cape ANCYL chairman Khalid Sayed said he agreed that the debate on radical economic transformation should not be restricted to nationalisation. Photo: Willem Law

Western Cape ANCYL chairman Khalid Sayed said he agreed that the debate on radical economic transformation should not be restricted to nationalisation. Photo: Willem Law

Published Aug 27, 2015

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Johannesburg - There could be fierce resistance to sections of a discussion document released on Wednesday by the ANC Youth League at its national congress next week.

One of the issues will be nationalisation.

Some factions allege the league is abandoning its official position in favour of state takeovers in the mining industry.

There is also disagreement developing over how best to build support for the league among tertiary students.

The document, titled “Repositioning the ANC Youth League For the Future”, suggests a departure from some of the watershed resolutions of its 2011 congress.

The congress adopted the slogan of “Economic Freedom in our Lifetime” and called for wholesale nationalisation of mines and the establishment of a state-owned bank.

But Wednesday’s policy discussion paper opposes getting bogged down in the nationalisation debate, which it dubs an “abyss” and says can’t be seen as a panacea for all problems in the economy.

On Wednesday, members of the league said the ANC was trying to impose its policies on the league and that the discussion paper would be vigorously debated in commissions at its congress.

Others contend that this week’s document agrees on continuing a focus on youth employment, skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities remains the same as previous league resolutions. “They want us to mimic the ANC’s position in society. We are a different sector or body of thought - either militantly or radically - but this has always been the position of the youth league,” an ANCYL member said.

A former member of the league’s national task team said he didn’t believe the contentious elements of the discussion document would be passed at next week’s congress.

“The thrust was that nationalisation was one of the things that should be considered.

“And building a state bank was unavoidable. If (the new document) says nationalisation is not a panacea, then it is a departure.”

Others disagreed that there had been a “departure” at all.

Western Cape league chairman Khalid Sayed said he agreed that the debate on radical economic transformation should not be restricted to nationalisation.

“It’s not the only means through which we can transform our economy,” Sayed said.

“It remains an important starting point.”

The discussion document also draws the line on the league’s contestation of SRC elections at tertiary institutions.

While it says the ANCYL should continue to establish branches, it “must enter into a pact” with the SA Students Congress in which it guarantees it will no longer contest SRC elections except under the banner of Sasco.

The Star

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