Choose young and competent leader for coalition

THERE has been intense debate both inside and outside the ANC about the kind of candidate who must take over from failed mayor Athol Trollip.

There are two aspects to the debate.

On one side is the question of a “credible” candidate which the EFF has thrown at the ANC as a requirement if it is to be given an opportunity to lead the coalition and on the other is whether the ANC should take the deal offered by the EFF.

On the first part of the debate, my view is that the question of credibility is not a foreign requirement to the ANC as its own deployment policy clearly outlines what kind of cadre that the ANC must deploy to serve and advance the aspirations of our people.

On the second part of whether the ANC should take the offer by the EFF, my answer is yes!

I give this answer with the understanding of the overwhelming complexities that this “deal” has on the political front.

My view is that for the ANC to effectively advance the objectives of the national democratic revolution, and free our people from the shackles of poverty and bridge the colonial gap administered through apartheid it has got to be within the corridors of power.

This is a principle the generation of Nelson Mandela appreciated when they entered into a government of national unity.

I wish to introduce another aspect to the debate and that is the candidate must be a young person!

Throughout this debate I have not been hearing the youth voice and it is not a vote of no confidence in the older cadres in the movement.

I suspect the reason why the youth voice is missing is either there is a deliberate attempt to silence them or they just don’t care!

The problem with this “silent” youth voice is that the world is getting younger each and every day.

It, therefore, demands that young people begin to position themselves in building their own future, and this means that they have got to be at the centre of strategic debates within the ANC and society in general.

The ANC in the metro needs a young person who will introduce a fresh perspective, who will bring dynamism and urgency in the running of the municipality.

The ANC in the metro has produced a lot of beautiful young minds who are educated, credible, innovative and are willing to serve our people.

The constant recycling of older comrades does not just waste this talent but it demoralises us!

I don’t believe that if we use the same strategies and same old minds we will get new and innovative solutions to the challenges of unemployment, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, poverty, crime and hopelessness among the people of the metro.

It is my strongest belief that young people both inside the ANC and the youth in general must mobilise themselves and force the ANC to begin to take the role of young people more seriously.

If we can mobilise ourselves and unite behind this view we could for the first time in the history of the metro get a young person who will be a symbol of our aspirations and bring hope to our people.

Luks Lufefe, a member of the ANC and ANCYL, writing in his personal capacity