ANCYL: Motlanthe’s our man for president

03/10/2012. ANC Youth League Deputy President Ronald Lamola listens to a question about the stance of the league about Mangaung. Picture: Masi Losi

03/10/2012. ANC Youth League Deputy President Ronald Lamola listens to a question about the stance of the league about Mangaung. Picture: Masi Losi

Published Oct 4, 2012

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Johannesburg - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is the ANC Youth League’s (ANCYL) first choice for ANC president when it comes to making nominations ahead of the Mangaung conference, ANCYL deputy president Ronald Lamola said in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Lamola said Motlanthe valued the true values and cultures of the ANC and the party needed leadership which could call it to order.

Lamola told members of the National Press Club that Mangaung was about radical and urgent change needed within the ANC, as well as positioning the party as a progressive radical force of the future, ready to lead society for another 100 years.

“South Africa needs a new generation of leaders, leaders who are innovative, who have new ideas and fresh thinking,” he said.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula will be nominated as secretary-general, while Mathews Phosa, Tokyo Sexwale and Paul Mashatile, among others, will be nominated to engage branches, regions and provinces of the ANC. Lamola explained that the ANCYL looked at various aspects as they prepared to deliberate on the nomination process at the 53rd National Conference in Mangaung in December.

The first aspect looked at was at what stage the current leadership of the ANC was at present.

Lamola said following the focus on reconciliation of South African citizens post-1994 and the expansion of the values of democracy, it was worrying, post the ANC’s 52nd National Conference, that all strategic issues of the ANC were subjected to endless discussions.

“This is a dangerous phenomenon for the economy as the economy needs economic policy stability and certainty,” he said.

He added that despite the ANC’s political power, the party had not done well in transforming the economy of the country.

The second issue focused on was identifying what the current political programme of the ANC was and how it could be improved.

Lamola said the political programme of the ANCYL could be summed up as the fight for economic freedom in their lifetime.

“An attainment of economic freedom in our lifetime means that we should do everything we can to make sure the ANC utilises the mandate of the people to realise all the economic clauses of the Freedom Charter,” he said.

The ANCYL further looked at who the opponents of the ANC’s political programme were.

He said the ANCYL had come to the conclusion that white monopoly and trans-national capital, as well as its representatives, were opposed to change and that this did not converge with the interests of the ANC.

“Understanding these complex issues and making international political and economic alliances at this level will be determined by how well the leadership understands the character and nature of imperialism in the 21st century,” Lamola said.

The final aspect looked at was based on the leadership qualities looked at to fulfil the political programme.

Lamola explained that a leader should be above reproach in political and social conduct as defined by revolutionary morality.

“A leader should act as a role model to ANC members and non-members alike, leading a life that reflects commitment to the strategic goals of the party,” Lamola added.

Lamola called on all structures and ANC branches engaging in AGMs going towards Mangaung to ensure that the party’s generational mission is fulfilled to ensure the election of the ANCYL’s nominations.

Pretoria News

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