ANCYL concerned over lack of youth representation in Gauteng cabinet

ANC

Cape Town — The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has questioned the lack of young people in the party’s Provincial Executive Council (PEC).

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, announced the Gauteng provincial cabinet featuring members from the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Patriotic Alliance (PA), and Rise Mzansi in a Government of Provincial Unity (GPU).

The ANCYL released a statement on X expressing its disappointment over the lack of youth inclusion in the cabinet and believes the youth should be prioritised to create opportunities.

“The ANC Youth League is deeply disappointed and strongly condemns the decision by the Premier to consciously exclude young persons in his executive.” ANCYL convenor, Ntsako Mogobe, said

“The ANC must explain why there is no young person in the executive, ignoring the fact that we have capable young MPLs who are under the age of 35,” he said.

Mogobe has called on Lesufi to have a youth and anti-corruption focus in his executive and encouraged the ANC to give young MPLs more responsibilities and positions of influence to be at the centre of youth development.

He said the inclusion of youth voices is essential to addressing challenges the youth face and will ensure their perspectives are integrated into decision-making.

“We urge the ANC to reconsider and address this oversight, reaffirming their commitment to fostering an inclusive government that truly represents all demographics within our province.

“The exclusion of young MPLs in the executive signals a concerning disregard for the voices and contributions of young people, reflecting a failure to take the plight of the youth seriously.”

Mogobe reflected on the outcome of the provincial election results and the formation of the cabinet and the youth arm believes that the ANC losing its majority rule in the province is a clear sign that the party needs new, fresh ideas, EWN reported.

“We also call upon the ANC and the new executive to give 50% of senior management positions to young people. We want 50% of HODs [Head of Departments] and we also want 50% of businesses in this province to be given to young people. This will give efforts to ensure we prepare for the future and we reiterate our firm stance against the exclusion of young people in the mainstream of the economy,” Mogobe said.

The party also commended the ANC’s decision to form a GPU and believes it is a crucial step in fostering political stability and inclusivity and believes a unified government will be better positioned to meet the challenges in communities

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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