Johannesburg -
The African National Congress Youth League on Sunday labelled its election festival in Tembisa, east of Johannesburg, as a success.
“It is worth noting that the election festival defied and disappointed doomsayers who predicted a poor turnout and a confrontation with rival political parties,” Gauteng ANCYL provincial convener Alex Mashilo said in statement.
“ANCYL members and supporters, as always, exercised maximum discipline.”
The festival was held just a kilometre away from the Mehlareng Stadium, where expelled ANCYL president Julius Malema's party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, launched its election manifesto on Saturday.
National Task Team convener Mzwandile Masina said as the task team entrusted with rebuilding the ANCYL, they could not take for granted the commitment demonstrated by millions of young South Africans to be part of a renewed ANCYL.
“The success of the ANCYL programme yesterday is a clear demonstration that we are well on our way to building an ANCYL that is radical and militant, yet not anarchic,” he said.
Masina added that they were well on their way towards building a character of the ANCYL different from the one they had inherited, which was morally and financially bankrupt.
“We are happy the ANCYL of Nelson Mandela has been rescued from foreign elements of greed, anarchy and hooliganism,” he said. - Sapa