Intensify+campaign+v+unemployment+and+monopoly,+YCLNC

Young Communist League, 27 August 2006
=YCL TO INTENSIFY CAMPAIGN AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT AND MONOPOLY CAPITALISM: STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE=

The National Committee (NC) of the Young Communist League (YCL) met in Johannesburg from Friday, 25 August until Sunday, 27 August in Johannesburg. In its agenda, the YCL discussed:

Forward to the 2nd National Congress of the YCL**
 * Preparations for the 2nd National Congress of the YCL;
 * The discussion document of the South African Communist Party (SACP) on whether the SACP should contest elections in its own right;
 * Youth unemployment and alternative economic policies given monopoly capitalist ownership of the South African economy;
 * Young people and the coming COSATU and affiliate congresses;
 * The need for political leadership to defeat the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and
 * Latest developments related to the ANC Deputy President.

From 14 to 17 December 2006, the YCL will hold its 2nd National Congress at the Mangosuthu Technikon, Umlazi township, eThekwini in the KwaZulu Natal province. This will be the first National Congress since our organisation was re-established in December 2003.

This 2nd National Congress will bring together 1,000 delegates from more than 600 branches, XX districts and 9 provincial structures of the YCL, representing 30,000 members. This is significant growth of a communist and political youth organisation in post-apartheid South Africa. In the 2 years and eight months of our existence, we have built an active, campaigning, vibrant and exciting organisation of young communists. We are proud of our YCL: it is a significant political factor with political and social weight in our society and is one of the leading youth political organisations.

In the three months leading to our Congress, all our members will be actively engaged in organisational and political discussion on the following issues:


 * The social and living conditions of young people in South Africa today;
 * YCL policy alternatives on economic policy and youth unemployment;
 * Why South Africa must provide free and compulsory education from first grade to tertiary education; and
 * The role of young people in the struggle for socialism in South Africa, YCL perspectives on the South African road to socialism and the YCL position that the SACP must contest elections in it own right.

These will be released publicly as discussion documents at the end of September 2006. The YCL calls on all South African youth to join its members in discussion of these key issues which will determine their own future. There must be Work and Security: Defy Capitalism and Constitutionalise the Right to Work!**

The YCL believes that the ownership and control of our economy by a mere five monopoly capitalists (Old Mutual, Sanlam, Liberty Group, Anglo American and the Rembrandt Group) is unjust and the primary cause of the massive inequality and poverty that we face as a country. These monopoly capitalists continue to structure the economy in their narrow profit-maximising interests. They have collectively failed to invest in a living wage, decent work, job creation and social development. The GEAR and ASGISA economic policy packages have not challenged the interests of these sections of monopoly capital. The YCL also noted and appreciated the comments by President Mbeki at the 4th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture. However, President Mbeki’s appeals for solidarity are not sufficient to change the structure of our economy for the better.

On this basis, the YCL reaffirms its rejection of the ASGISA policy which is based on the same neo-liberal thrust that informed GEAR. In the view of the YCL, ASGISA continues with this illusion that the redistribution of our country’s wealth must be put on the back burner whilst capitalists continue to grow their profits with capitalist economic growth. The YCL calls for economic policy which places the redistribution of our country’s wealth as a sustainable basis for pro-poor and pro-youth socio-economic development. The ASGISA assumptions of lowering the costs of doing business amount to more secure profits for the bosses, in particular the big five monopoly capitalists in our country (Old Mutual, Sanlam, Liberty Group, Anglo American and the Rembrandt Group), and greater insecurity for the workers and the poor.

The GEAR and ASGISA policies are a far cry from what the Freedom Charter called for. The Freedom Charter correctly said that //“The state shall recognise the right and duty of all to work, and to draw full unemployment benefits… There shall be a forty-hour working week, a national minimum wage, paid annual leave, and sick leave for all workers, and maternity leave on full pay for all working mothers.”//. In line with the Freedom Charter, the YCL calls for the inclusion of the right to work in the South African constitution. This will be an important first step in order to put a constitutional obligation on the state to provide work and unemployment benefits to all citizens of our country. The YCL calls for the right of all to work to be made real through higher levels of corporate tax, massive state investment in social and economic expenditure, a state-led industrial strategy, support and promotion of co-operatives, the creation of worker- and community-owned and democratically controlled enterprises, as well as the creation of decent work on the basis of a living wage instead of low wages, casualisation and outsourcing.

It is for all these reasons that the YCL supports and joins the Right to Work Campaign (R2W Campaign). As part of the R2W Campaign, we support the following demands:


 * The Right to Work must be guaranteed in the constitution as a fundamental human right;
 * 1 year guaranteed work in the Expanded Public Works Programmes at the minimum wage for the relevant sector of work;
 * An unemployment allowance, starting with a basic income grant;
 * Free transport for unemployed workers so they can look for work;
 * A reduction in the working week without loss of pay;
 * A moratorium on retrenchments;
 * An end to casualisation;
 * Skills training prioritised in line with social needs; and
 * Reverse privatisation and take those assets sold off back into public ownership.

These demands are part of the YCL’s own Defiance Campaign which we launched in March 2006. In taking forward both campaigns, the YCL will organise its members, activists and our country’s youth behind these demands. We demand Political Leadership on HIV/AIDS**

The YCL stands for a comprehensive approach to defeat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This requires a multi-pronged state-led and people-driven strategy to build a decommodified, well-resourced, strong and efficient public health system. This also requires a renewed challenge to the continuation of profiteering by drug companies at the expense of our people. For this to be possible, the YCL demands decisive, unequivocal and principled political leadership from President Thabo Mbeki, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and all of government. Our country cannot afford the confusing statements bordering on AIDS denialism from any section of government. We also call on the government to open dialogue and inter-action with the TAC and all mass movements fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We cannot afford division and confusion on this pandemic which is threatening the fabric of our society. In this regard, we call on government to proceed without hesitation on the roll-out of anti-retro viral drug to the Westville prison, other prisons and all those who need them in our country.

The YCL salutes the Congress of South African Trade Unions and its affiliates as they prepare for the 9th National Congress. COSATU remains an inspiration, shield and hope to many young workers who face daily exploitation in farms, tele-centres, cash tills, and milling machines where they provide cheap labour to the benefit of their employers.
 * Forward to the 9th COSATU National Congress

The YCL regards this COSATU Congress as an important moment for building the unity and cohesion of the trade union movement on the basis of worker leadership, COSATU’s own socialist principles, the rejection of attempts to divide union leadership, and the defeat of capitalist, and anti-worker influences on workers and trade union structures. As young workers, we have the fullest confidence in the collective leadership and membership of COSATU to rise to this challenge.

The YCL also calls on young workers to use this COSATU Congress as an opportunity to join trade unions to defend and advance their interests. Better education is not sufficient to protect young workers against casualisation and bad working conditions. In line with the long-standing goal of COSATU to break the 2-million membership mark, the YCL commits to working with COSATU to mobilise young people into trade unions. The YCL will participate in the COSATU Congress.


 * Latest Developments in matters related to the ANC Deputy President**

The YCL NC also received an update on the latest developments in matters relating to the ANC Deputy President, Cde. Jacob Zuma. The YCL reiterates its support of the rights of Cde. Zuma to a free, fair, unbiased and speedy trial, and the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. Justice delayed is justice denied. We also note the decision of the parliamentary committee to question the report of the Inspector General on the hoax emails. This reaffirms our long-standing view of the abuse of state resources for political agendas. We call on all those involved to desist from doing this.

The YCL NC also supports the SACP call for the re-opening of the arms deal to public scrutiny given recent revelations which point to possible misconduct and corruption. Importantly, this public scrutiny must also question the economic benefits and assumptions of the arms deal in light of other social and economic expenditure which needs to be prioritised.

Issued by: **Young Communist League** For more information contacts CASTRO NGOBESE @ 082 567 3557 (YCL Spokesperson)**
 * Buti Manamela**
 * National Secretary**

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