ANCYL demands change to Constitution

2011-10-28 13:04

Pretoria - The ANC Youth League on Friday called on government to amend the Constitution to allow land claims without compensation.

ANCYL deputy president Ronald Lamola read out a memorandum of demands at the Union Buildings in Pretoria at the culmination of the league's "economic freedom" march.

The league demanded the amendment of section 25 of the Constitution which protects private property against arbitrary expropriation and allows for compensation.

The memorandum was received by newly-appointed Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi.

Demands

He is a former secretary-general of the SA Democratic Teachers Union.

The league's memorandum said all productive land should be nationalised and leased, and neighbourhoods electrified.

Labour brokers must be banned and all vacant government posts be filled.

A state bank must be established and foreign policy must be changed to isolate countries that threaten South Africa's sovereignty.

A fund must be established to send 10 000 students to the best universities.

ANCYL president Julius Malema was pleased that Nxesi was the one who accepted the memorandum.

'Not a Mickey Mouse organisation'

"We have a minister. We always get what we want. We are not a Mickey Mouse organisation. We are a serious organisation," Malema said.

"The minister knows these demands very well. He used to be one on the street fighting this.

"He will take this to the executive and will explain it better because he is from a working class background."

Earlier, Malema demanded that only a member of the Cabinet accept their memorandum on "economic freedom".

On Thursday, the league handed memorandums of demand to the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg's city centre and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton.

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