The Free State ANC Youth League Provincial Chairperson has criticised the provincial government leadership for not paying attention to issues facing youth unemployment.

Chairperson Xolani Stalin-Tseletsele took the stage at the ANC’s manifesto review in Welkom and criticised the work of some HODs, questioning why they are still in power – especially Human Settlements’ HOD, Mosa Masimene. “There are a lot of HODs in this province who are toying around. We don’t know what they are doing but the leadership is not paying attention to them. Those HODs, especially Human Settlements’ must be attended to because we don’t know why they are still kept there.”

“The youth league will not tolerate friction in the party. We don’t want to inherit a powerless party.”

He shone a spotlight on issues such as lack of housing and bursaries, saying no communication has ever been offered to them as it remains unclear what is happening. “We have elected and put a different leadership in power this year but we are not seeing any changes being made. We need them to reply to our issues with urgency.” 

A question as to why the leadership is not dealing directly with issues of corruption was also posed by the youth league chairperson. “Why are you not responding to issues of individuals from municipalities being criss-crossed from one municipality to another? What is the leadership benefitting from these individuals, since nothing is being done?”

Many people attended the Manifesto Review at the Zuka Baloyi Stadium in Welkom. Photo: Tshehla Koteli

Shining light on the issue of youth unemployment in the province, he said many people who attended the manifesto at the Zuka Baloyi Stadium in Welkom are unemployed and they are not asking for fancy jobs, they need the leadership to help out. “Not all of the youth standing here want to work in the offices of MECs, HODs, nor Mayors but they need those who have been put in power to assist in job creation so that the youth unemployment rate can decrease.”

Addressing hundreds of ANC supporters on Saturday (09/09), he accused the ANC of making the youth league weak. He added the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the party is deliberately halting the youth league from executing programmes which will help the youth of the province. He has made a promise that the youth league will pay a visit to the office of the provincial secretary, Polediso Motsoeneng, on Monday (11/09) to raise key issues that the leadership need to pay attention to.

Many people attended the Manifesto Review at the Zuka Baloyi Stadium in Welkom. Photo: Tshehla Koteli

In conclusion, he made another allegation that there are certain PEC members who visit the branches with the purpose of causing division within the party. “The youth league will not tolerate friction in the party. We don’t want to inherit a powerless party.”

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