Thokozile Mnguni
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and the South African Democratic Teachers Union Students Chapter (SADTUSC) have pledged closer cooperation ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The two organisations met at Luthuli House in Johannesburg. They agreed to work together on issues affecting young people, including education and unemployment.
In a joint statement issued, the organisations said they would support efforts to mobilise young voters. They also committed to strengthening their relationship through youth empowerment programmes.
The ANCYL and SADTUSC raised concerns about the South African Council for Educators (SACE).
They repeated their call for unemployed teachers to be exempt from subscription fees required for professional registration.
The organisations described the fees as unfair, calling on SACE to withdraw them immediately.
Concerns were also raised about rising unemployment in the community and social services sector, referring to first quarter employment figures released by Statistics South Africa.
The increase was said to be partly linked to the termination of temporary teaching positions.
The two organisations called on the Department of Employment and Labour, as well as the Department of Basic Education, to re-employ teachers who lost jobs through temporary programmes.
The statement also highlighted concerns about youth unemployment. The organisations said they were ready to lead a protest to the Union Buildings, calling for urgent government intervention.
They welcomed the announcement of 100,000 job opportunities through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, calling it a positive step but saying more long-term solutions are needed.
On immigration, the organisations called for a comprehensive government strategy, saying undocumented immigration must be addressed in a way that protects national security and human dignity.
The meeting also supported efforts to rebuild structures within the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and backed the Progressive Youth Alliance.