ANCYL abandons march to strategic centres

65th birthday celebrations.
“Our focus is on our political programme and birthday celebrations,” spokesperson Magdalene Moonsamy said on Thursday.
“It’s not about dropping plans, but we have to look at what our priority is at the moment.”
The league began its birthday celebrations on Thursday with a memorial lecture at the University of Pretoria.
On Saturday, it would have a rally and cake-cutting ceremony in Alexandra, Johannesburg.
Last month, the league called on all provinces to march to strategic centres of the economy as part of its “economic freedom in our lifetime” campaign.
These centres included the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Chamber of Mines, Agri SA and the Union Buildings.
“The ANCYL will mobilise all young people, unemployed youth, informal settlement dwellers to fight against economic oppression in all its formats and character,” spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said recently.
The National Development Agency, which grants funds to civil society organisations, denied reports yesterday it would be leading the march on behalf of the youth league.
South African government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said yesterday said last week’s protest “by young people in Johannesburg” was among those mentioned (in Cabinet) as violent.
Cabinet condemned behaviour that resulted in destruction of property and intimidation of people. At the start of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema’s disciplinary hearing in Johannesburg last week, rioters thronged the city centre, hurling broken bricks at police and journalists and burning pictures of president Jacob Zuma, all in the name of Malema. – Sapa.