/ 25 September 2011

YCL backs Zuma’s move on Shiceka

Ycl Backs Zuma's Move On Shiceka

The Young Communist League (YCL) said on Sunday it supported President Jacob Zuma’s decision to act on the conduct of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka.

“This is a sign of commitment from the president and Cabinet to act on any matter, whether alleged or factual, around corruption,” the YCL said in a statement following a plenary session of the league’s national congress committee in Braamfontein.

Shiceka was implicated in a provisional report submitted last week by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

He had allegedly spent R355 000 to visit a girlfriend in a Swiss jail, R640 000 to stay in a luxury hotel in Cape Town and more than R160 000 on plane tickets for his family.

In two previous reports, Madonsela found Cele and Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde had acted improperly in signing a controversial lease for police headquarters.

A discussion on the role of the judiciary in South Africa was needed, said the YCL.

“We cannot have an independent judiciary in a class divided society, worse still, such purported and implied, independent judiciary expresses views on the discourse and political shape of the country,” the committee said.

However, it supported the ANC’s decision to challenge the court ruling on the song “Ddubul ‘ibhunu”.

Regarding unemployment, the YCL expressed concern at the ratio of funds channelled towards infrastructure development and the number of jobs which would be created.

The national committee expressed shock and disappointment at South Africa’s decision to grant a bailout to Swaziland as this money would be used to sustain the royal family’s lavish lifestyle while the Swazi people continued to live in abject poverty.

Because the working class is most affected by climate change, the league also vowed that it would “fully participate” in the Conference of the Parties to be held in Durban later this year.

The YCL said it would recruit one percent of South Africa’s 19 million youth by 2014. — Sapa