The ANC Youth League yesterday received a major boost when Cosatu and traditional leaders endorsed its "struggle for economic freedom" marches to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Union Buildings.
The ANCYL has vowed to block the M1 next week as part of its protest against poverty and unemployment. The marches are to start in the Johannesburg CBD, head to the JSE in Sandton and then proceed to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
"Contralesa express its unreserved support for the ANC Youth League struggles for economic freedom in our lifetime, and particularly emphasised on the long-overdue need to retain South Africa's land and all natural resources to the rightful owners", Cosatu said in a statement yesterday.
The body said issues raised by the ANCYL such as the provision of free quality education, jobs, houses, land, nationalisation of mines, water and electricity would benefit the communities and people under its leadership.
The only conditions the traditional leaders set for their support was that the marches must be "disciplined and non-violent. Cosatu) also said it supports the planned ANCYL mass action, but warned that it should not be used to launch a leadership battle within the ANC.
"We cannot oppose the march because their demands, like nationalisation, job creation and fighting poverty, are Cosatu's policies.
"But we cannot endorse the march if it is going to be used to wage an ANC leadership succession battle. The ANCYL is an important body, but there are certain individual leaders whose utterances we cannot associate with," said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven, refusing to elaborate or identify the leaders.
Cosatu's affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), has also come out in support of the marches.
"The support for the ANCYL struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime is perfectly consistent with support for the ANC and President Jacob Zuma," said Numsa spokesman Castro Ngobese.
He said the marches to demand nationalisation, total ban of labour brokers, the creation of decent jobs and provision of quality education were genuine struggles.
SACP leader Blade Nzimande has openly campaigned against the march.
Cosatu and Contralesa support marches
The ANC Youth League yesterday received a major boost when Cosatu and traditional leaders endorsed its "struggle for economic freedom" marches to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Union Buildings.
The ANCYL has vowed to block the M1 next week as part of its protest against poverty and unemployment. The marches are to start in the Johannesburg CBD, head to the JSE in Sandton and then proceed to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
"Contralesa express its unreserved support for the ANC Youth League struggles for economic freedom in our lifetime, and particularly emphasised on the long-overdue need to retain South Africa's land and all natural resources to the rightful owners", Cosatu said in a statement yesterday.
The body said issues raised by the ANCYL such as the provision of free quality education, jobs, houses, land, nationalisation of mines, water and electricity would benefit the communities and people under its leadership.
The only conditions the traditional leaders set for their support was that the marches must be "disciplined and non-violent. Cosatu) also said it supports the planned ANCYL mass action, but warned that it should not be used to launch a leadership battle within the ANC.
"We cannot oppose the march because their demands, like nationalisation, job creation and fighting poverty, are Cosatu's policies.
"But we cannot endorse the march if it is going to be used to wage an ANC leadership succession battle. The ANCYL is an important body, but there are certain individual leaders whose utterances we cannot associate with," said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven, refusing to elaborate or identify the leaders.
Cosatu's affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), has also come out in support of the marches.
"The support for the ANCYL struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime is perfectly consistent with support for the ANC and President Jacob Zuma," said Numsa spokesman Castro Ngobese.
He said the marches to demand nationalisation, total ban of labour brokers, the creation of decent jobs and provision of quality education were genuine struggles.
SACP leader Blade Nzimande has openly campaigned against the march.
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