ANCYL to bar members found guilty of corruption, GBV and other crimes from its ranks

The top 6 officials of the ANCYL,from left,Venus Blennies-Magage,Fransisco Dyantyi,Collen Malatji,Tsakani Shiviti,Zama Khanyase and Jacob Tau.

Supplied/ANCYL

The ANCYL has resolved to ban members found guilty of corruption,GBV,or unethical acts from holding office.The decision is part of its stance to enhance accountability within the organisation.This resolution reflects the Youth League’s commitment to ethics and tackling societal issues.The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has resolved that members found guilty of corruption,gender-based violence (GBV),and other unethical conduct will be barred from holding any office in the organisation.

Furthermore,the league also intends to vet new members to exclude people found to have serious criminal records or a history of gender-based violence.

These are some of the resolutions adopted at the 27th National Congress of the ANCYL,held at the University of Limpopo in Polokwane,which concluded on Wednesday.

Addressing delegates on organisational renewal,chairperson of the drafting committee,Kutloano Rakosa,stated that ANCYL membership should not only be guided by age but also by a demonstrated commitment to the league’s values. He emphasised the need for a structured vetting process to exclude those with serious criminal records or histories of gender-based violence.

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“So comrades,we don’t want to harbour any comrades,as we all know that GBVF (gender-based violence and femicide) has been declared a national state of disaster.

“So we don’t really want to harbour any individuals within our ranks who have been found guilty of GBVF and any other related crimes,” Rakosa said.

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He added that the commission on organisational renewal recommended excluding anyone joining the Youth League who,after vetting,is found to have committed a crime.

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“So new members will undergo a compulsory induction programme of political education before attaining their full membership,” he said.

Rakosa clarified that prospective members should undergo induction by the ANCYL’s political education subcommittee at the branch level. This process,he said,would run concurrently with the vetting procedure to establish their eligibility for membership.

During the ANCYL’s national general council in September,members also resolved to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on corruption,factionalism,and ill-discipline within its ranks.

“That needs to be concretised with a policy that is going to affect this so that each and every person who is found to be wanting or to have digressed,at least they are brought to book,and the effectiveness of the organisation is brought,” said Rakosa.

Rakosa added:

All members and leaders found guilty of corruption,gender-based violence,or unethical conduct shall be barred from holding office in the Youth League.

Previously,the organisation lacked mechanisms to hold members accountable,as it did not have a “step-aside” policy like its mother body,the ANC.

“Now,the ANC Youth League needs to develop its own policy around people who are doing wayward things and are found to be doing things that are not aligned to the organisation,” Rakosa added.

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He also stressed the importance of holding ANCYL members in government or legislative positions accountable,saying: “Those who are deployed by the ANC,the ANC Youth League must also take serious responsibility for their participation and for their behaviour insofar as bringing the organisation into disrepute,because we cannot only rely on the processes of the ANC as if the ANC is the only one that deployed the leaders.

“So we also need to take into confidence the members that we have deployed to be councillors,MPLs and MPs and other strategic positions,and we need to be able to hold them responsible for that,” he said.

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Rakosa concluded that this initiative would reinforce the organisation’s credibility,ensuring that its members uphold its founding principles and values.