The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in Limpopo has welcomed the removal of Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye from the provincial cabinet, but expressed disappointment over the exclusion of its provincial chairperson, Faith Sebopela.
Premier Phophi Ramathuba announced changes to the Limpopo provincial cabinet on Wednesday, 2 September.
In a statement issued on Friday, 4 September, ANCYL Limpopo spokesperson Kgwane Boshielo and provincial secretary Phineas Sebola said the youth league had long called for a cabinet reshuffle to strengthen the provincial executive.
The league said its position was informed by concerns over the previous executive’s ability to drive sustainable economic development, job creation and improved service delivery.
The ANCYL welcomed Mathye’s removal, saying improved service delivery, economic development and meaningful job creation required active, committed and accountable ANC deployees who were prepared to implement the resolutions and programmes of the movement.
It also welcomed the inclusion of the ANC’s provincial deputy secretary Pule Shayi and provincial treasurer Eddie Maila in the provincial executive, saying their appointments would help align the aspirations of ANC members with the responsibility of serving the people of Limpopo.
However, the youth league said it was disappointed by Sebopela’s exclusion from the newly constituted provincial executive.
“Her exclusion signals, in our view, a failure by the movement to adequately recognize and integrate the role and aspirations of young people within the broader Mass Democratic Movement and society,” Boshielo and Sebola said.
The ANCYL said it had consistently advocated for meaningful youth representation in structures of governance.
It said young people made up a significant part of the population and remained central to the future of the ANC and the country’s democratic project.
The league said it would continue engaging with and persuading the ANC to ensure that young people were meaningfully represented in the provincial cabinet and other key centres of decision-making.
While acknowledging the reshuffle as an attempt to strengthen the provincial executive, the ANCYL said more needed to be done to ensure the provincial government could effectively respond to the challenges facing the people of Limpopo.
The league said its primary concern was that the ANC had overlooked its call for meaningful youth representation in the provincial executive.
“The ANCYL Limpopo will continue to engage the ANC constructively and decisively on matters affecting young people and the broader population of Limpopo,” Boshielo and Sebola said.
