Jacob Zuma Launches MK Party’s Youth League, Emphasizes Discipline and Youth Leadership
Natalie Nyathi
Yesterday ,Jacob Zuma, leader of the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), spoke to a large crowd at the launch of the party’s youth league at Christianenburg Sports Stadium in Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal. The event marked Youth Day, highlighting the importance of young people in the party’s future and South Africa’s liberation.
Zuma stressed the key role of youth in the party’s mission, saying, “At the heart of the revolution is the youth. They are essential to our success.” He encouraged attendees to actively challenge oppression, declaring, “We should not keep quiet and wait for an occasion. We are still oppressed, but the oppression of this time is at another level.” His message resonated, emphasizing the need for youth to lead the fight for change.
The new leadership of the youth league includes Qiniso Cibane as president and former spokesperson Nkanteko Mkhabela as secretary-general. Zuma expressed confidence in the new structure, which consists of members from different provinces, stating that it was well organized and ready for significant challenges.
However, Zuma also addressed the internal issues facing the party. He took a strong stance against undisciplined members, saying that no one is above the party’s principles. Referring to the recent removal of Floyd Shivambu from the secretary-general position due to a controversial trip to Malawi, he emphasized, “This is not an organization to make money; it is an organization to liberate South Africa. If one of us goes off track, we don’t beg them.”
Zuma pointed out that the MK party has seen a lot of changes in leadership, noting, “We’ve had seven secretary-generals because we’re not here to play games. We don’t care how great you are or how loved you are; we talk about our party.” His remarks showed a commitment to keeping discipline within the party and ensuring everyone aligns with its goals.
He also instructed the youth league to question what he believes were rigged votes in past elections, stressing the need for accountability in politics. “The youth must ask: ‘Where are our votes?’ Because they are there,” he stated, urging them to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.
As the event wrapped up, Zuma reaffirmed the importance of youth in shaping South Africa’s future and the MK Party’s commitment to its liberation goals. He called on the youth to be proactive in their advocacy, saying, “This means our party needs work. We will fire anyone who does wrong in the MK.” His leadership approach blends a call to action with a strict adherence to the party’s principles, setting a clear agenda for the new youth league as it begins its mission.
