The+Bottomline,+Issue+3,+Volume+5,+7+February+2008




 * The Bottomline, Issue 3, Volume 5, 7 February 2008**


 * //In this issue://**


 * **The Year for the Launching and Advancement of our Vision 2010- Part II**




 * National Secretary, Political Notes**

=The Year for the Launching and Advancement of our Vision 2010= =– Pt II=

In the last edition of The Bottomline we explored the basic and central pillars of building our organization and the need for all structures of the YCLSA to rally behind this programme. In this edition, we look into the political tasks that faces the youth of our country and the need to ensure that we intensify our political vigilance and consolidate this Vision 2010.

The National Lekgotla looked into the ANC 52nd National Conference resolutions, the SACP 12th Congress, the Cosatu Central Committee and the YCLSA's own 2nd National Congress resolutions as the political guide towards consolidating this Vision 2010. We did this with the belief that this are some of the most progressive resolutions that we could use to ensure that our country remains on track in changing the lives of our people and youth

In this regard, we see the State of the National Address which will be delivered tomorrow by the President of the Republic, Thabo Mbeki, as an important platform to begin to advance some of these key aspects of our National Democratic Revolution.

The YCLSA National Lekgotla understood that with the change in guard at the Polokwane Conference, there are no guarantees of the desired change that we seek being ultimately achieved. This, together with the rest of the resolutions that we took into account, cannot be realized if we do not continue the struggle from where we left. A commitment to take forward all these resolutions, and to ensure that they are implemented, is akin to breaking new ground and exploiting new spaces created by the Polokwane Conference.

The Lekgotla understood that the change of guard in Polokwane does not in itself constitute an immediate change in the economic and political discourse, but that this will be a result of more struggle. Here, we tackle two of the most important issues that we think needs to be dealt with urgently as part of taking forward the Polokwane resolutions.

The disbandment of the Scorpions and its incorporation into the South African Police Service
Immediately after the Polokwane Conference, there has been a lot of sentiment seeking to reverse the ANC resolution on the location and operation of the Scorpions. The said resolutions, in detail, states that "(1) The constitutional imperative that there be a Single Police Service should be implemented; (2) The municipal, metro and traffic police, be placed under the command and control of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, as a force multiplier; (3) The Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) be dissolved; (4) Members of the DSO performing policing functions must fall under the South African Police Services; and (5) The relevant legislative changes be effected as a matter of urgency to give effect to the foregoing resolution.

The opposition parties have concocted all sorts of reasons and counter reasons why these institution should not be integrated into the police service, whilst the Scorpions staff are alleged to have met and tried to stop this eventuality. Chief amongst the reasons being propagated is that if the scorpions is dissolved, the levels of specialized crimes will increase and that our country will not be a safer place. Those who propagate this, further say that it is because of the fact that some key leaders of the ANC have been persecuted by the Scorpions and thus the need to dissolve these.

As the YCLSA, we state categorically our support for the continuance of the fight against crime and corruption, and support capacity that has been developed to execute this task. The reality is that the DSO has conducted itself in such a way that it almost became a law unto itself, abusing its power and authority and harassing people by instilling fear instead of doing its job. Above this, the DSO has also prostituted itself to the allegiance of some individuals, and has itself become a political instrument. In its fight against crime and corruption, it became selective and cherry-picking. We are from a long history of mixing politics with police and we know that it is a recipe for disaster.

All we need to be moving towards now a situation where President Mbeki announces measures and plans from government to ensure that this become an eventuality. The Democratic Alliance and the UDM, who have at all times showed contempt for President Mbeki, should stop their opportunism by trying to use Mbeki's perceived opposition to the dissolution of the Scorpions and start building their parties for the next elections.

Advancing the National Youth Development Agency
As part of our concerted efforts towards transforming the lives of young people, we will go all out to ensure that the envisaged National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is put in place and that President Mbeki will announce measures in this regard when he presents his State of the Nation Address. We are mentioning this important factor because there is a need for the current National Youth Commission and Umsobomvu Youth Fund to ready themselves and work towards their own amalgamation.

The YCLSA will continue to officially make submissions to the various organs of the state and be involved in the creation of this NYDA. In this regard, the YCLSA National Lekgotla was instructive of the kind of development agency that we need for the youth. Amongst others, cue should be taken from the Asmal Commission on the role of Chapter 9 institution where emphases were put on service delivery rather than reliance of bureaucratic policy intervention.

The Lekgotla was very clear in declaring that the NYDA should focus on the following:


 * Actively put in place programmes to fight against poverty and unemployment, by investing in youth cooperatives and Small Medium Enterprise;
 * Channel the energy of young people towards playing a developmental role by participating in already established government programmes such as Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) and National Youth Service;
 * Actively out in place institutions and structures that will ensure that institutions of youth development are accessible and within reach, by investing in already existing infrastructure;
 * Mobilize, educate and organize young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS;
 * Create a sense of community work amongst young people by ensuring that we contribute towards programmes that empowers a social cadre from amongst the youth; and
 * Promote skills development amongst young people and ensure that young people are employable and move away from the life of crime, alcohol and drug abuse.

There is a lot of expectation on the NYDA and the sooner measures are taken for it to be in place the better. This will include certain government bureaucrats and politicians committing to work towards this ideal, instead of attempting to sabotage this valuable discourse of youth development.

The Scorpions are dead! Long Live the Scorpions! A National Youth Development Agency is a certainty! That's the bottomline, cos the YCLSA said so!


 * Buti Manamela, National Secretary, 7 February 2008**