News / Africa
ANC Youth League plans mass action to demand the nationalisation of mines
21 Sep 2011 at 09:40hrs | Views
Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League will take to the streets in October to demand the nationalisation of mines and an equal share in the country's mineral resources, its spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said on Wednesday.
"The ANCYL takes this approach of mass mobilisation because of our strong conviction that the betterment of the people of South Africa's lives will not happen in boardrooms and through some endless negotiations with capital," Shivambu said.
The mobilisation - planned for October 27 and 28 - will start off at the Chamber of Mines, continue to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and then on to a night vigil at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The league would also be handing over a memorandum to the executive demanding free education, the immediate abolishment of labour brokering, jobs for youth, better housing and sanitation for informal settlement dwellers and access to water.
Mobilise SA's youth
"It is high time that we mobilise all South Africa's youth and progressive forces to demand jobs and equal share of South Africa's wealth from big business and corporations who are benefiting at the expense and to the exclusion of the historically disadvantaged."
Shivambu said the league would be meeting all "fraternal organisations" to persuade them to join the mass action.
These would include unemployed youth, underprivileged students, squatter camp residents and people without basic services such as water and electricity.
All branches of the ANCYL across the country were expected to mobilise their communities and travel to Johannesburg for the protest.
No provincial marches were planned.
"This serves as a clarion call to all economic freedom fighters that total liberation and emancipation of the oppressed and exploited people of South Africa will not only happen in boardrooms and conferences.
"The people should rise and demand what rightfully belongs to them," said Shivambu.
"The ANCYL takes this approach of mass mobilisation because of our strong conviction that the betterment of the people of South Africa's lives will not happen in boardrooms and through some endless negotiations with capital," Shivambu said.
The mobilisation - planned for October 27 and 28 - will start off at the Chamber of Mines, continue to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and then on to a night vigil at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The league would also be handing over a memorandum to the executive demanding free education, the immediate abolishment of labour brokering, jobs for youth, better housing and sanitation for informal settlement dwellers and access to water.
Mobilise SA's youth
"It is high time that we mobilise all South Africa's youth and progressive forces to demand jobs and equal share of South Africa's wealth from big business and corporations who are benefiting at the expense and to the exclusion of the historically disadvantaged."
Shivambu said the league would be meeting all "fraternal organisations" to persuade them to join the mass action.
These would include unemployed youth, underprivileged students, squatter camp residents and people without basic services such as water and electricity.
All branches of the ANCYL across the country were expected to mobilise their communities and travel to Johannesburg for the protest.
No provincial marches were planned.
"This serves as a clarion call to all economic freedom fighters that total liberation and emancipation of the oppressed and exploited people of South Africa will not only happen in boardrooms and conferences.
"The people should rise and demand what rightfully belongs to them," said Shivambu.
Source - Sapa
