The ANC Youth League remains defiant and has vowed to march to Premier Helen Zille’s office again next month, without apology, after her refusal to accept its memorandum personally.
The league and its allies led 3 000 people to the legislature yesterday in protest at what they described as tardy service delivery, but Zille declined to accept their memorandum, saying she would accept it in person only when the league apologised and retracted threats to make the city and province ungovernable.
The youth league would not apologise to Zille and mayor Patricia de Lille, said national executive committee member Magdalene Moonsamy.
“She cannot start by demanding apologies and charging our leaders. She must provide for the people. Today she has run away from the people she claims to lead,” Moonsamy said.
“We will accept this for today, but the fight is not over.”
The league’s secretary for the Cape Town metro, Mfuzo Zenzile, said they would march again on September 27.
Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Ivan Meyer was sent to acknowledge the memorandum, but the crowd booed and jeered at him. The memorandum was eventually accepted by Finance MEC Alan Winde.
Xolani Sotashe, chairman of the ANC’s Dullah Omar region, said the party would continue to support the league in its campaign.
It was raising issues affecting young people.
The league mobilised residents from Khayelitsha, Manenberg, Gugulethu and Philippi.
Bongi Nhlapo, from Khayelitsha and unemployed, said she was marching because her community did not have proper toilets.
“I want the premier to hear our problems. I am here not because of the ANCYL, but because our people on the Cape Flats suffer. We have poor services and are placed last.”
Jonathan Latief, from Bonteheuwel and also out of work, said: “They want to close our schools and throw our children into the hands of drug [lords] and other bad elements.”
l In a separate incident, the inbound carriageway of the N2 near the CapeTown International Airport was closed for two hours last night when protesters stoned vehicles from a bridge, provincial traffic head Kenny Africa said. - Cape Times