ANCYL has right to march - ANC

2011-10-26 20:56

Johannesburg - The ANC said on Wednesday it supported the rights of the ANC Youth League to march for "economic freedom".

"We don't have a problem with the youth league marching... We think that they have the right like any other organisation in the country to march," ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told reporters in Johannesburg.

"We have received assurances from the youth league that they will control the matter and deal firmly with any agent provocateurs attempting to derail the march."

Mantashe said the march was not against the ANC government and was not linked to the party's 2012 elective conference.

The party held a meeting with the league on Monday to discuss the issues around the march and held a further "elaborate engagement" on Tuesday.

"The leadership of the ANC Youth League took full responsibility for the march and whatever consequences that may arise there from," Mantashe said.

"There was an agreement that the ANC Youth League should do everything in their power to avoid anything that will embarrass the movements."

Mantashe said the league's willingness to accept the alternative routes for the march and the denial of the Union Buildings for the night vigil was reassuring.

"All of this dispels the myths that this march in principle is meant to be disruptive," he said.

- SAPA