THE WEEK THROUGH THE EYES OF COPE YOUTH MOVEMENT

Who said politics was not a challenging and daunting experience? This week was no exception, with controversies and counter controversies rearing their ugly head once again from all quarters of society. Highlights of these being the continuing service delivery protests in Diepsloot and Eldorado Park, Western Cape Youth releasing a damning statement against Allan Boesak (COPEYM national response), the ANCYL’s request for R1bn into the coffers of the National Youth Development Agency, the suspension of Leonard Chuene from ASA, the debacle dodging Eskom and Juju and his cronies being above the law.

We have come to acclimatise with the harsh realities around opposition politics in South Africa where our views and comments on being watchdogs and alternative to the ruling party continue to hit a brick wall from communication reaching our people and the masses at large. We however continue to march on relentlessly to ensure that the mandate given to us by 1.3 million South Africans exceeds all expectations and is taken to greater heights. It is a shame that our triumphs (the people’s victories) are not adequately reported in the public arena. I dare ask how many of the South African population are aware that COPE won, in a convincing fashion two (2) wards in the Northern Cape. It is an indictment to democratic principles that all that is published in the media is negative coverage hell-bent on destroying the gains of democracy we have achieved thus far.

From a policy view, many contest our very existence due to “vague policy positions” and not being able to articulate them effectively enough to give other party’s a run for their money. This may be true, to a certain extent and it therefore calls for us to be vigilant and active in our structures as we make them permanent and elect leaders who will be able to stand true to what COPE stands for. One of these policies is the issue surrounding the labour brokers. It is no secret that they are instrumental in our country’s economic mainstream, and the reality is, the economy can clearly not afford to have its entire active people in permanent employment, although it would be ideal. The call to ban them is reckless and irresponsible as it is estimated that +/- 20,000 would lose employment in this sector should they be abolished.

COPE’s call for this body to be regulated is the correct one, and our call does not mean that our people have been taken for granted. We admit that, our laws have been flouted and violated against by these brokers where ordinary workers end up taking nothing home whilst labour brokers usurp the fruits of their labour! We also dare the General Secretary of the Young Communist League, the great Communist, Buti Manamela, who currently sits in parliament, wearing super 130 Italian suits and driving fancy cars, to reveal fellow comrades he threatened to reveal for their involvement in labour broking shenanigans. It is time people like Manamela were taken to task as he is a parliamentarian with information of individuals who violate our laws, but has done nothing to date to ensure that they are brought to book!

Also, whilst we welcome the Deputy Minister of Transport’s promise to investigate Julius Malema’s traffic violations and abrasive stance against our law enforcement officers, it will be no use to once again use a populism stance to keep the opposition at bay and the public silent. We expect his department to revert back to the public about their findings. In a democratic society, it is fundamentally important for our laws to apply to all the entire citizenry without exception, and we challenge the Government to investigate this fully and take appropriate action, if warranted. COPE stands for equality before the law for all. It is time the public took drastic measures to stop the animal farm behaviour of the ANC and their toddlers, the YL. Many people have no roof over their heads, have no food, no access to basic constitutional rights: water, and the so called champions of the poor continue to live in the lap of luxury, sipping French Champaign, expensive whiskies, red wines and smoking Cuban cigars which don’t taste all that good anyway. Having a good life is good, as long as one has worked hard for it as all of us do on a daily basis.

This then, brings us to another sore point. The Congress of the People Youth Movement has made it crystal clear that they want to participate in the National Youth Development Agency for the benefit and access of resources to the young people of the land. We vehemently reject this body being run solely by the ANCYL. A national structures such as this, which both its Chairman and CEO (Deputy President and Deputy Secretary General of ANCYL) are loyal cadres of the governing party. Our suspicions were spot on that this vehicle was always going to be used to repay the cadres loyal to the President and to Juju.

This week, Julius made an even whimsical call for an injection of R1bn into this body so that they could appoint their cronies into the NYDA from all provincial structures. COPE Youth Movement rejected this request this past week, and in normal circumstances, we would accept it as long as this body exercised democratic principles of inclusivity of all youth formations in South Africa. For as long as the NYDA is controlled and run from Luthuli house without the involvement of young people from across the country, we shall be vocal about lack of democratic principles against a party that is purported to be custodians of our constitution.

The week also saw Mr Allan Boesak turning his back against COPE, claiming in-fighting, disarray and the constitutional or lack thereof of our structures. As the case with all members, we all joined the movement voluntarily and we can leave the organisation voluntarily. Mr Boesak’s presence in COPE was always welcome and our members learned vastly from his knowledge and experience. Whilst it will always be sad to lose people of his calibre, COPE remains bigger than any individual, even President Lekota, Deputy President Shilowa or I. We shall march on, conscious of the fact that we have a tumultuous responsibility to deliver the promise we made to the people of South Africa. This, we shall do, fully cognizant of the many mountains and challenges that continue to be a stumbling block to our progress. But, we dare not falter. To borrow a phrase from Latin, NEC ASPERA TERRENT (difficulties do not terrify us!)

The good news is, last week; Midrand (Gauteng) launched properly constituted branches with duly elected leaders with a mandate from the branches. The Sandton Zone, constituting of Alexandra, Cosmo City, Diepsloot, Honeydew and others, shall be launching branches this coming weekend. Many other such activities across the country continue unabated, and the truth is; COPE is growing. In anticipation of our launch of the THUMA MINA! campaign, many activities across the country will be taking place and one such event, is the mobilisation of young forces in the Nelson Mandela Region where they will be blitzing through the townships of Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 7 November 2009.

Last week, COPE (Gauteng) celebrated the lead up to the 1st Anniversary of COPE which will be held on 16 December 2009. Deputy President, Mbhazima Shilowa was keynote speaker and this event also showcased the blooming talent COPE has in its Student Movement, ably represented by Lukhona Mnguni.

Tomorrow sees another landmark. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) of the Youth Movement shall be descending in Durban for their inaugural meeting regarding operational issues and other matters affecting the organisation. This body consists of the top 12 of the Youth Movement, with heads of all portfolio’s providing feedback on the work conducted thus far. This meeting shall also discuss thorny issues that continue to threaten to destabilise our progress. A report back on this meeting shall be communicated to all by the Secretariat.

Ben Okri, from his book, A Way of Being Free, said: “There are no joys without mountains having been climbed. There are no joys without the nightmares that precede them and spring them into light… The joys that spring from the challenges are profound. And the challenges will always be there. As long as there are human beings there will be challenges. Let no one speak of frontiers exhausted, all challenges met, all problems solved. There is always the joy of discovering, uncovering, and forging new forms, new ways.…”

On behalf of the collective leadership of COPE Youth Movement, we wish you all a blessed weekend and thank you for all the hard work we all continue to do, long may it continue.

Sipho Nghona is Cope Youth Movement Head of Communication