SASCO Free State PEC-Media Statement Statement by SASCO FS Provincial Executive Committee on the announcement of the FS MECs and the ANC YL Provincial Congress 29 May 2014 SASCO notes and welcomes the appointment of Members of the Executive Council (MEC’s) in the Free State Provincial Government. We as the student movement have since located a vision for a transformed higher education within the broader vision of a national democratic society as embedded in the agenda of the national democratic revolution led by the ANC. Our jubilation is informed by evidence of intended consistency by the ANC-led government to continue delivering services to the people of the Free State. SASCO maintains its complimentary and contradictory relationship with the ANC-led government and we believe that government can be used as an effective tool to transform and improve the state of higher education in the province. We reiterate that we are members of the community before we are students and we continue to bear the brunt of unemployable/unemployed graduates, unequal income levels and massive poverty in the South African society. This is because of the historical exclusion of the African majority (working class) from access to quality higher education, further education and training institutions. However we note the unparallel contribution by the Free State provincial government towards broadening access in higher education for our previously disadvantaged black people in particular and Africans in general. The vanguard student movement commends the ANC by retaining cadre Ace Magashule as the premier. Comrade Ace Magashule is a student activist in his own right. This is evident in his unwavering commitment to transform institution of higher learning from ivory towers to people’s institutions for people’s power. This commitment also resonates in the ANC’s resolution by making education an apex priority. SASCO will continue engaging the ANC-led government on issues facing the students in our province. We believe that is only through the African National Congress; wherein the plight of the poor and the disadvantaged will find refuge. We wish all the MECs and the entire Free State Legislature a fruitful term of office. Under the leadership of comrade Ace Magashule: -Full time bursaries allocations were increased from only 129 in 2009 to 7521 in 2013 -500 new bursaries were allocated in 2014 -More than 500 white students also benefitted from the bursary scheme -Free State ANC Government is also supporting students to pursue their studies at international universities including 194 students in Cube, 37 in Turkey and 316 students who left for china early this month In 2014, the private sector contributed approximately R10 million directly to the relevant higher learning intuitions for 1150 students. SASCO says long live comrade Ace Magashule, long Live!!! On the ANCYL Provincial Congress Our alliance with the ANCYL is a “living organism that has grown out of struggle”. The ANCYL remains in our view, integral component in the life and body politics of the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA). This alliance is joined on the basis of a revolutionary programme of the National Democratic Revolution that will usher a classless society. Having revolutionary objectives does not alone qualify one to be in a revolution. It is the determination – with various actions- for the attainment of such objectives that makes one to be believed to be in such a revolutionary struggle. It requires that we properly modify ourselves to be engaged in revolutionary activity that cannot be questioned by the masses of our people. It is in this context that the student movements note the ongoing rebuilding of the ANCYL to first rally the youth behind the banner and vision of the ANC and most importantly to champion the general interest of young people. This process of rebuilding comes within the first decade after the centenary of the ANC that has been characterized as a decade of a cadre by our National Liberation Movement. SASCO remains an intellectual reservoir of the entire mass democratic movement that has over years produced the revolutionary organic intelligentsia for both the movement and the society at large. Historically after the unbanning of the political organizations in the country, our former and current leaders were called upon to assist in the critical process of rebuilding the ANCYL and other progressive youth formations in the country. As we find ourselves in the current process of rebuilding; we will uphold this practice and continue produce advanced detachments of leadership for the progressive youth formation. Therefore, SASCO has a principle interest in the body politics of the ANCYL as to influence the current ANCYL to be committed to the revolutionary young alliance and the attainment of the National Democratic Revolution. Our message of support to the Provincial Congress of the ANCYL is that the ANCYL should play an integral role in uniting the PYA and electing leadership that is committed to the PYA and NDR. Together we move South Africa Forward Contact: Provincial Chairperson: Sizwe Zingitwa 081 354 2049 Provincial Secretary: Bongani Ngcanga 078 837 5248
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 15:09:27 +0000
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