The Limpopo African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) appears to have been pacified with job offers by the mother body to shelve its widely-publicised planned demonstration against Premier Stan Mathabatha.
Two weeks ago, the league’s provincial chairperson Tonny Rachoene and provincial secretary Oliver Mabunda told the media that they wanted to mobilise young people to march to Mathabatha’s office in demand of jobs and the resignation of “lazy mayors and MECs”.
They also called on Mathabatha to reshuffle his cabinet in favour of younger leaders, starting with Rachoene.
“We want our provincial chairperson Tonny Rachoene to be made an MEC, as he has the necessary energy and skills to turn around any provincial department.
“We also urge the premier to follow the examples of other provinces that created a department of youth and people living with disability, which we believe must also be led by a young MEC. The youth unemployment in our province is currently sitting at a disheartening 65%. The ANCYL will organise the youth of this province to march to the provincial government and the mining chamber,” Mabunda said at the time.
The young lions also said they would demand appointments of young people in the provincial state-owned entities (SEOs), provincial government departments and municipalities. In response, the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) in Limpopo said they met and considered the demands of the young lions, which it said “should be given effect both in government and private sector”.
“The ANC Limpopo PEC noted the call by the ANCYL for the inclusion of young people in management, various boards of SOEs, leadership in various levels of government and in the private sector. The PEC is of the view that the call is genuine and should be given effect both in government and private sector.
“The PEC directed that officials of the ANC should engage with the ANCYL on all the issues raised and brief the PEC in the next meeting,” said provincial ANC spokesperson Jimmy Machaka.
However, the league’s planned march seems to have been defused through promises to dish out executive posts to the young lions. When contacted for comment this week, the Limpopo ANCYL’s leaders failed to state whether they would go on with the march to ensure that the 65% youth unemployment rate is reduced.
Since Monday, Rachoene and provincial ANCYL spokesperson Mikia Ramotlhwana promised to provide clarity on the way forward but repeatedly failed to do so.
