Joint+YCL,+Afriforum+statement+from+bilateral+of+19+October+2006



=JOINT STATEMENT OF THE YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE AND AFRIFORUM FROM A BILATERAL MEETING HELD ON 19 OCTOBER 2006=

The Young Communist League and AfriForum held a bilateral meeting this morning subsequent to the recent demonstration by AfriForum students who had painted themselves black and the response of the YCL thereto.

The delegation of the YCL was led by Buti Manamela, National Secretary and that of the AfriForum comprised of Kallie Kriel, Jan van Zyl (Student) and Alana Bailey (Deputy Executive).

Both organizations shares the principle contained in the constitution that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.” In line with this section of the constitution, we agreed that there are varying aspirations amongst the various cultural, racial, ethnic and linguistic communities. However, through dialogue; we believe that common ground can be found to the benefit of all communities to achieve unity in diversity.

Thus, we agreed that we will jointly in the near future convene a Youth Summit to discuss some of the issues and find common ground on others. A working group has been set up to facilitate the Summit.

The focus of the Youth Summit will amongst other issues focus on the following:


 * Poverty Eradication and Job Creation,
 * Unity in Diversity and Cultural Respect and Appreciation,
 * HIV/AIDS, and
 * Post Apartheid Inequalities and how we deal with those.

We further agree that the major challenges facing young South Africans, irrespective of race, are //poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS//, and that these needs should be urgently attended to collectively by all South Africans. Further, we agree that the socio-economic needs raised by the AfriForum students are shared by the majority of young South Africans irrespective of their race.

We need further engagement on the interventions provided for by Affirmative Action and Black Economic Empowerment, but we however agree that the development of one race should not be to the detriment of another.

The YCL shares the concerns raised by AfriForum around AA and BBBEE as reverse discrimination, but worried that the majority of young black South Africans remain unemployed and in poverty makes both legislations a project between black and white elites.

AfriForum believes that inequalities in our societies should be eradicated by using socio economic position and not race as a criteria.

As long as there remains social and economic problems in South Africa, with unemployment at 42% and poverty remaining persistent, racial tensions will still remain in a struggle for the survival of the fittest.


 * ISSUED BY THE AFRIFORUM AND THE YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE**

CONTACT


 * KALLIE KRIEL (Chief Executive: AfriForum): 082 441 5073**
 * CASTRO NGOBESE (National Spokesperson): 082 567 3557**

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