African National Congress Youth League

African National Congress Youth League

Infobox Political Youth Organization
name_english = African National Congress Youth League

President = Julius Malema
colorcode =
foundation = 1944
headquarters =
ideology =
international = International Union of Socialist Youth, IUSY; World Federation of Democratic Youth WFDY
regional1_type =
regional1_name =
student =
secretary =
mother_party = African National Congress
website = [http://www.anc.org.za/youth/ anc.org.za/youth] The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) is the youth wing of the African National Congress. Its foundation in 1944 by Anton Muziwakhe Lembede (1914-1947), Ashley Peter Mda, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo marked the rise of a new generation of leadership of South Africa's black African population. It developed a manifesto in 1944 and published a program in 1948.

By the end of the 1940s, the Youth League had gained control of the African National Congress. It called for civil disobedience and strikes in protest at the hundreds of laws associated with the new apartheid system. These protests were often met with force by the South African Government. In 1950, 18 blacks were killed during a walkout while protesters including Mandela were jailed and beaten for their opposition to the Government.

Thabo Mbeki became active in the Youth League in 1956 and was expelled from high school in 1959 as a result of participation in a strike. In 1959 many ANCYL members broke away to form the rival Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). In 1960, the PAC, ANC and its associated organisations had been banned. Mbeki organised a stay-at-home in protest at the South African Government's decision to leave the Commonwealth of Nations before leaving South Africa at the suggestion of the ANC.

The Youth League continued its activities underground during the remainder of the apartheid years. In 1990, F. W. de Klerk legalised the ANC and its associated organisations including the Youth League, and Peter Mokaba led the newly unbanned Youth League.

Fikile Mbalula, an activist since the 1980s and President of the league since 2005. Mbaulula succedded KZN, Eshowe born, student Activist Malusi Gigaga, current Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. Mbalula had served as Secretary General of the ANCYL under Gigaba's leadership. It was under Mbalula's leadership that the ANCYL took on a more visible role in tirelesly defending and lobbying, albeit contreventialy Jacob Zuma, to his election as ANC President in Plolokwane, Dec 2007.

The election of Julius Malema, in April 2008, in Mangaung was initially disputed after a bitterley contested election with Saki Mofeking. Malema has however carried forward the long held role of the ANCYL, of the being, the ever militant and vibrant organ within the ANC. [http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=744316 [ANC to decide on league's congress] ]

The Youth League generated significant controversy in 2008 when its president publicly declared its willingness to seek violence in support of Jacob Zuma's extra judicial acquittal of corruption charges, stating that the Youth League was "prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma". In further remarks, Julius Malema has called for the elimination of so-called 'counter-revolutionary' forces, which include the largest opposition party the DA. [ [http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-07-02-malema-wont-withdraw-kill-for-zuma-statement Malema won't withdraw 'kill for Zuma' statement - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source ] ] Statements such as these seriously undermine the perception of the ANCYL as a body that can deliver responsible future leadership for the ANC and possibly South Africa.

Notes

References

* [http://www.anc.org.za/youth/ African National Congress Youth League]
*"Nelson Mandela." "Contemporary Black Biography", Volume 14. Gale Research, 1997. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2005. retrieved 5 December 2005
*"Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki." "Contemporary Black Biography", Volume 14. Gale Research, 1997. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2005.
*cite book
first=C.R.D.
last=Halisi
date=1999-11-01
title=Black Political Thought in the Making of South African Democracy
pages=62
publisher=Indiana University Press
id=ISBN 0-253-33589-2


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