<\/p>\n
ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji has made a bold statement, saying President Cyril Ramaphosa should be the last \u201cpensioner\u201d to lead the country.<\/span><\/p>\n Malatji made the remarks on Wednesday, at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in the North West as part of the Youth Month commemorations.<\/span><\/p>\n He argued that older leaders must make way for younger people in key positions of power, especially given the country\u2019s high youth unemployment rate, which is sitting at 32.9% and the social struggles faced by young South Africans.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey (referring to the youth) are dispossessed, they are on drugs, they are on alcohol, they are abused by their husbands every day of their marriage, they are in problems,\u201d Malatji said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven your dignity is stripped when you are deprived of your own economy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He called for a revival of youth political consciousness similar to that of the 1976 generation, who famously rose up against apartheid.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat spirit must be revived in your hearts and souls. It must burn until the structure of the economy is changed, until the youth of this country run this country,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n Malatji criticised what he sees as contradictions in government policy regarding age and retirement.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t say people aged 65 must go to pension, but the one who makes the laws, aged 65, is still working,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven those in Parliament must go home when they are 65. President Ramaphosa must be the last president who is a pensioner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ramaphosa, who is 72-years-old, has announced a National Dialogue aimed at reshaping South Africa\u2019s future amid worsening inequality, unemployment, crime, and corruption. <\/span><\/p>\n The dialogue will culminate in a National Convention on August 15, bringing together political, civil, religious, traditional, and business leaders. <\/span><\/p>\n It will conclude with a second convention in early 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n Malatji lambasted the process, claiming it lacks meaningful youth representation and direction.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEverything important in this country must be run by the youth,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t have a high level of youth unemployment while pensioners are still working.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He also took aim at the recently announced Eminent Persons Group tasked with overseeing the dialogue, which includes Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane of the Zion Christian Church, Bishop Grace Engenas Lekganyane of the St. Engenas Zion Christian Church, former COSATU general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali, and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.<\/span><\/p>\n On Wednesday, News reported that notable absentees from the list include Ramaphosa\u2019s predecessors and leaders of legacy foundations such as those named after Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, and Ahmed Kathrada, all of which have been critical of the current administration.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBecause that national dialogue will have no direction if it is not directed by the youth of this country,\u201d Malatji said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot have a task team for the youth dialogue without youth (representatives).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He called for a youth-led national dialogue ahead of any broader national initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt is us, the youth of this country, who must have a national dialogue before the national dialogue. The first national dialogue must be a dialogue of youth, who must direct that national dialogue,\u201d Malatji said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday is not about speeches, but I felt I must remind you why we are reviving your conscience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji has made a bold statement, saying President Cyril Ramaphosa should be the last \u201cpensioner\u201d to lead the country. Malatji made the remarks on Wednesday, at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in the North West as part of the Youth Month commemorations. He argued that older leaders must make way for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[18635,14632,1038,426,11854],"class_list":["post-243059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-politics","tag-039pensioner039","tag-malatji","tag-president","tag-ramaphosa","tag-sa039s"],"yoast_head":"\n