Calls for the youth to lead decisively and in unison
Mhlongo delivers Sharpville Massacre Lecture
ANC Musa Dladla Region Deputy Chairperson Gift Mhlongo has expressed concern about people who continue hijacking ANC programmes to further their political agendas.
He was speaking at the ANC Youth League Ngwelezana branch lecture on the Sharpville massacre held in the Ngwelezana community Hall last week.
He said the protest march against the pass laws was an ANC programme scheduled for 31 March, 1960, but was hijacked by ANC breakaway group Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC).
‘This was our programme and our struggle. Somehow PAC leaders became aware of this and they then staged their protest march on 21 March, which resulted in more than 69 unarmed people losing their lives and more than 180 seriously injured,’ he said.
Mhlongo said the events of 1960 were repeating themselves even in today’s politics.
‘I’m sure many of you are aware of how other political opportunists, especially those who were with us have hijacked and stolen our programmes and presented them as theirs. We must take lessons from that 1960 march,’ he warned.
Mhlongo said the aim of the lecture was to reflect on the past while looking into the future.
Conference
Turning to the fortcoming conferences, Mhlongo said there was a need for the ANC to cleanse itself from factionalism and foreign tendencies which hold the potential to bring down the 104-year-old liberation movement.
‘We don’t want to be known for singing. We must debate issues robustly.’
Mhlongo also called for unity among members of the ANC Youth League in the region.
‘We are fortunate to follow democratic principles in the ANC where members are allowed to engage on issues. The revolution must not produce permanent enemies.
‘We need leaders who are willing to engage in ideological discourse.’
In his welcoming address, Youth League Ngwelezana Branch Chairperson Wiwi Gumede said the challenges facing the country today warrant the intervention of young people.
‘We want youth leaders to take over the ANC now,’ he said.
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