The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) must be educated in the basic principles of a peaceful democracy, AfriForum Youth national chairperson Ernst Roets said on Tuesday.
He was speaking after AfriForum Youth handed a copy of the book Politics for Dummies to the ANCYL at its Luthuli House offices in Johannesburg.
”The book was given in order to caution the youth league to put an end to their radical and irresponsible statements and threats,” Roets said in a statement.
AfriForum Youth is worried about the political direction the ANCYL is taking in constantly using intimidation and threats of murder and violence to achieve its objectives.
Roets also expressed concern that institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission are not taking a stand on to these issues. He said no steps have yet been taken in this regard against ANCYL leaders.
AfriForum Youth said the ANCYL should be reminded that a modern and democratic constitutional state is based on a social contract.
”It implies that every individual cannot simply do as he or she pleases, but that citizens should take each other into consideration and have to accommodate each other,” its statement read.
Roets said that if the ANCYL felt it had ”pent-up frustrations” it would like to get rid of, AfriForum would like to invite the league to a game of paintball.
ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu claimed on Tuesday afternoon that the league had not received the package, though press photographs showed ANCYL media liaison officer Thandi Mokaba behind her desk with the book in front of her, an orange ribbon tied around it.
Shivambu said the league would nevertheless not take AfriForum Youth seriously. ”They are a group of racists, we cannot take them seriously,” he said.
He said the group was trying ”to get recognised” with its stunt. ”They want to be associated with people whose voices are taken seriously.” — Sapa