/ 19 May 2005

Political extremes come together in talks

Dialogue across political extremes continued on Thursday between the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurverenigings (FAK) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL).

The two bodies agreed in Johannesburg to focus future talks on the economy and language issues, said FAK spokesperson Johann Rossouw.

Thursday’s meeting was a follow-up to a discussion in April this year between the ANCYL and various Afrikaans bodies.

”We [the FAK and ANCYL] met to find common ground on issues that we share so that we can work together to solve some of them,” Rossouw said.

”The issues of economy and language and the link around these two were brought up, as well as mother-tongue education.”

The FAK is an umbrella body for a number of Afrikaans cultural organisations.

ANCYL spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said his organisation is positive about cooperation with the FAK.

”We want to work with them because they can play an important role in issues of nation building and politics.”

Kodwa said the two organisations could also learn a lot from their respective cultures.

”We are glad to be a part of that process. The Afrikaner youth have so much confidence and are positive about the outcome of our meetings. We must give them space so that they don’t feel excluded,” said Kodwa.

The FAK and ANCYL will meet again on June 11. — Sapa