ANC Youth League Rejects National Dialogue That Excludes Youth and Economic Reform

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has dismissed the recent National Dialogue as irrelevant, saying it lacks credibility without the direct involvement of young people and a firm focus on the economy.

ANCYL president Collen Malatji described the gathering as nothing more than a “tea party for friends,” arguing that it sidelined political youth formations, civil organisations, and communities directly affected by unemployment and inequality.

Youth say they were locked out

Malatji accused organisers of ignoring the country’s biggest demographic.

“Political youth organisations with real constituencies were not there. Civil groups were not there. It was clearly a platform for opportunists trying to delegitimise the progressives in power,” he said.

He added that no dialogue is meaningful if young people are reduced to spectators in decisions about jobs, education, and economic opportunity.

Land reform and jobs at the heart of demands

ANCYL Secretary-General Mntuwoxolo Ngudle reinforced the position, stressing that land reform and economic transformation must sit at the centre of any genuine dialogue.

“Any national dialogue that does not resolve the land question and the economy is a waste of time. Our historic struggle has always been about land and economic justice,” Ngudle said.

A growing chorus of criticism

The Youth League’s frustration mirrors the wider discontent surrounding the National Dialogue.

Several prominent organisations, including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, withdrew from the process, citing rushed implementation and lack of transparency around a reported R740 million budget.

Government of National Unity (GNU) partners like the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) also pulled out, warning that the process risked being captured by government interests instead of reflecting diverse voices.

Why this matters now

South Africa is battling youth unemployment above 40 percent, while frustration over land redistribution continues to fuel political divisions. Against this backdrop, the ANCYL argues that any dialogue that sidelines young people is not just incomplete, but dangerous.

Malatji was blunt: “Without youth, there is no future. A real national dialogue must focus on the economy, jobs, and land reform. Anything else is a joke.”

Public reaction

On social media, the Youth League’s statement has sparked debate. Some users agreed that the dialogue was an “elite talk shop” disconnected from ordinary people. Others accused the ANCYL of scoring political points, saying the ruling party itself has failed to deliver on youth priorities.

What is clear is that the exclusion of young voices has widened mistrust in the National Dialogue project, leaving questions about whether it can still serve its intended purpose of building unity in a fractured nation.

{Source: IOL}

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