Overview
- The ANCYL used a Christmas Day statement to renew its appeal for President Cyril Ramaphosa to classify youth unemployment as a national disaster, citing hunger, exclusion and social risk.
- Spokesperson Zama Khanyase said such a designation would centralize management through the National Disaster Management Centre and unlock funding for implementation across provinces.
- Khanyase told SAfm that Ramaphosa has shown support for the call, though no formal government decision has been announced.
- The league urged immediate measures including industrialisation, skills development, localisation, expanded public employment programmes and targeted support for youth-owned enterprises.
- Saftu president Zwelinzima Vavi criticized the ANCYL for what he termed political contradiction after Khanyase praised ANC economic policies, noting the November precedent of GBV being declared a national disaster.