ANC
1Min
South Africa
Dec 16, 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa inspires ANC Youth League delegates to rally the youth behind the party for local elections, calling for urgent action to address youth unemployment as a national disaster.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africa’s youth to rally behind the African National Congress (ANC) as a pivotal agent of change ahead of the forthcoming local government elections.
The four-day congress, themed "Economic Freedom and Social Change: Now, Not Later," has been marked by an impressive turnout of over 3,000 delegates, culminating in the unopposed re-election of Collen Malatji as youth league president.
As the ANC grapples with declining electoral fortunes a trend highlighted by the recent 2024 general elections, Ramaphosa's remarks underscore the party’s need to reconnect with the youth vote, which has been notably absent in previous polls.
“We must accelerate our own organisational renewal, but for it to be sustained, it must go hand in hand with national rejuvenation and renewal,” Ramaphosa declared. He articulated that the ANC's revival is contingent upon a strategic developmental plan focusing on growth, prosperity, and social equity.
Addressing a generation that faces unprecedented challenges due to youth unemployment, which Malatji has urged to be declared a national disaster, Ramaphosa expressed both his admiration and optimism for the active role young delegates played at the National General Council (NGC).
“The participation of young people was unprecedented; they presented their arguments calmly and intelligently, showing us that the ANC Youth League has come of age and is ready to lead,” he remarked, reinforcing the potential of the youth as architects of their futures.
Other key figures within the youth structure were also appointed during this congress, including Francisco Dyantyi as deputy president and Tsakani Tshivhiti as secretary. With such a diverse and passionate leadership in place, the Youth League is poised to harness its collective strength to influence both the internal dynamics of the ANC and the broader political landscape in South Africa.
In an era when the ANC faces critical scrutiny, Ramaphosa's emphasis on the necessity of engaging the youth reflects an understanding of their potential impact. “It is you who must mobilise young people in their millions next year,” he urged delegates, calling on them to ensure that the youth stands as a formidable force supporting the ANC.
