Young communists concerned by NDP talk

Johannesburg - The polarised manner of the debate on the National Development Plan (NDP) to either reject or accept it is worrying, the Young Communist League SA said on Sunday

"We believe that both extremes are unhelpful... The NDP document itself concedes that it is neither perfect nor complete," the YCLSA said in a statement after it's National Executive Conference.

"We are concerned that although there was extensive virtual consultation in the development of the NDP, it is also important that the NDP is rooted in our communities, workplaces, townships and in all corners of our country..."

A democratic public participatory process was necessary as a platform for people to contribute in the planning and influence changes that were required to the document, it said. The YCLSA said part of their concerns are the relation to dealing with youth employment.

"We will continue to engage with the NDP building on its strengths and seeking the correction of its weaknesses as well as those policy actions which we believe will not be helpful."

The YCLSA welcomed the appointment of the new National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) board and said it would offer its full support in the board's efforts to "clean up and restore credibility to the beleaguered entity'.

The board should consider the process for reviewing the NYDA act because the current act has many loopholes and remained incomplete, it said.

We urge the new board to consider with speed the process of reviewing the NYDA act.

The National Council of the YCLSA would take place in Kimberley from June 27 to June 30 where it would launch the elections programme.