Building home and hope for Young People in KwaZulu Natal By Mafika Damane Mndebele Introduction: The conclusion of a successful Young Communist League of South Africas (YCLSA) Provincial Congress of KwaZulu-Natal recently, requires a reflection - abridged as it ought to be because of time and space constrains - of the road to socialism, so to speak, travelled by Ufasimba of KwaZulu-Natal. To this end, this article serves as a brief historical account of KZN YCLSA and is accordingly structured as follows: Abridged history, the New Younger Generation, The Beacon of Hope and the Conclusion. Abridged History Throughout its ten year history, the KwaZulu-Natal YCLSA has taken many forms. In each period, young Communists have taken part in and led some of the most important social struggles for working classor youth – against poverty and unemployment, racism and capitalism. It has fought for socialism drawing on the traditions of the South African Communist Party and carrying them to young people, and learning from each new generation of youth the concerns and analyses which would enrich that tradition. The birth of YCLSA in the Province was in 2005 after the Historic 2003 re-establishment Congress. Then the organization campaigned against labor brokers, supported the struggle to organized young workers into trade unions, and engaged in solidarity campaigns against the brutal Swaziland Government. This collective of 2005 was lead by comrade Khayelihle Kwanyana and Njabulo Ntanzi as both the Provincial Secretary and Chairperson respectively In 2007, a collective as led by comrade Mlungisi Hlongwane and Bheka Mbuthuma was elected at Durban University of Technology on the eve of the economic meltdown in our country. As the economic challenges deepened the YCLSA-KZN fought against youth unemployment, and for free sanitary towels for school girls in rural areas. We fought against exploitation of women by some backward practice including Ukuthwala. The Young Communist League became a serious body of opinion in the province and insisted on discussing every topic without fear i.e. calling for the budget of King Zwelithini to be reduced, a campaign for the return of comrade Mzala Nxumalo’s Book (Gatsha Buthelezi, a Chief with double agenda), we fought against corruption and many other issues. The New Younger Generation In 2010 disagreements toward the National Congress within the Provincial body saw the dissolution of the Provincial Committee with some comrades elected in leadership position at the National Congress. The Interim leadership mainly consisting of younger generation was put in place. The leadership main mandate was to deliver the Provincial Congress which they were unable to do up until the Party took over that responsibility together with the National Leadership. The Beacon of Hope 0n 30th of November 2014, the seed of hope was planted in the Province as young communist in the Province representing close to 8 000 members throughout the Province met in Durban University of Technology to revive their movement under the theme “Building hope and the home for the Youth in KZN”. The congress was officially opened by the National Secretary of YCLSA comrade Buti Manamela. The responsibility of presiding over the congress was given to three National Committee members: Comrade Sikhumbuzo Mdlalose, Richard Mamabulo and Mafika Mndebele. The National Secretary took his time while addressing the congress educating delegates about the history of YCLSA, Marxism-Leninism doctrine and then spent most of his time on the political campaign YCLSA should undertake. It was spelled out that YCLSA is a political University of the Party having responsibility to educate working class youth about Marxism-Leninism, imbuing them with the consciousness that victory in the building of socialism in our country is fully possible and necessary. That beyond this, YCLSA should rally these young people behind the political program of the South African Communist Party which is South African Road to Socialism. Young Communist were also called upon to be active in all areas of youth development: industry, agriculture, institutions of education, the co-operatives, the progressive youth formations, and so forth. Every member of the Young Communist League active must link his daily work in all spheres of youth development with the prospect of building socialist South Africa. The congress elected a collective of young but experience cadres led by Mlungisi Justice Manana and Sandile Dayi, as both the Secretary and Chairperson respectively. Conclusion As a way of concludung, having concretely analysed its historical mission versus current challenges, the Congress re-affirmed 10 Youth Demands as adopted by the 2005 National Policy Conference of YCLSA and resolved to convene a Provincial Council to deliberate and develop a political program of action that will resolve the plight of young people in KwaZulu Natal and build YCLSA as the home for all working class youth.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:11:31 +0000
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