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IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Malatji: Ramaphosa should be SA's last 'pensioner' President
ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji delivers a fiery speech during Youth Month, calling for younger leadership in government. Image: Facebook/ANC Northern Cape ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji has made a bold statement, saying President Cyril Ramaphosa should be the last 'pensioner' 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 younger people in key positions of power, especially given the country's high youth unemployment rate, which is sitting at 32.9% and the social struggles faced by young South Africans. 'They (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,' Malatji said. 'Even your dignity is stripped when you are deprived of your own economy.' He called for a revival of youth political consciousness similar to that of the 1976 generation, who famously rose up against apartheid. 'That 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,' he said. Malatji criticised what he sees as contradictions in government policy regarding age and retirement. 'You can't say people aged 65 must go to pension, but the one who makes the laws, aged 65, is still working,' he said. 'Even those in Parliament must go home when they are 65. President Ramaphosa must be the last president who is a pensioner.' Ramaphosa, who is 72-years-old, has announced a National Dialogue aimed at reshaping South Africa's future amid worsening inequality, unemployment, crime, and corruption. The dialogue will culminate in a National Convention on August 15, bringing together political, civil, religious, traditional, and business leaders. It will conclude with a second convention in early 2026. Malatji lambasted the process, claiming it lacks meaningful youth representation and direction. 'Everything important in this country must be run by the youth,' he said. 'We can't have a high level of youth unemployment while pensioners are still working.' 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. On Wednesday, IOL News reported that notable absentees from the list include Ramaphosa's 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. 'Because that national dialogue will have no direction if it is not directed by the youth of this country,' Malatji said. 'We cannot have a task team for the youth dialogue without youth (representatives).'
IOL News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC speaks out on Paul Mashatile's alleged hit
ANC treasurer general Dr Gwen Ramokgopa has dismissed most allegations of assassination attempts as baseless, but confirmed that the reported shooting incident involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been formally referred to the party's secretariat for further scrutiny. "Usually when there are these reports (of assassination), many of them are fake, actually," Ramokgopa said on Tuesday, speaking to the media at the ANC Northern Cape elective conference. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "We have seen a lot of fake things. We have referred these matters for the secretariat to deal with organisationally, and indeed, in due course, we will respond to that," she said. Ramokgopa added that while the ANC would assess the allegations internally, "it is ultimately the responsibility of the relevant agencies of the state" to investigate such incidents. The alleged shooting, which reportedly happened on March 30, was not made public until Mashatile mentioned it on Sunday during a visit to the KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal. Before addressing the Easter service, Mashatile spoke about the incident, explaining that his vehicle was hit by what he initially believed were stones while driving home from the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg, Gauteng. "When we got home, the protector said the impact was too much. They wanted to take (the vehicle) for checking because a bulletproof windscreen is too strong to be damaged like that, and that's why they are doing the investigation," Mashatile said. His spokesperson, Keith Khoza, confirmed Mashatile was unharmed and said the matter was under investigation by police. South African Police Service (SAPS) national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the SAPS would not comment publicly. "The SAPS does not discuss or comment on the safety and security of the president, deputy president, or cabinet members in the public domain," Mathe said. Earlier, IOL News reported that Professor Jéan Steyn, a criminal justice expert at the University of Zululand, suggested the timing and secrecy surrounding the alleged shooting could indicate internal political tensions within the ANC. "The timing of the incident, post-ANC NEC meeting, and its delayed disclosure could intimate internal ANC dynamics or factionalism," Steyn told IOL News on Tuesday. Mashatile is widely expected to contest for the ANC presidency in 2027. However, insiders suggest that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and secretary-general Fikile Mbalula are also being discussed as possible contenders. The silence from Mashatile's office and the SAPS fuelled speculation on social media, with some users claiming the shooting was staged. Security strategist Andy Mashaile told IOL News that Mashatile might have been advised by the State Security Agency to withhold public comment immediately after the incident. "If the incident happened earlier and he spoke about it only recently, it might mean one thing: he was advised not to disclose it to avoid creating panic," Mashaile said. "You don't want to create an environment where copycats feel encouraged to target blue-light vehicles," he said. IOL Politics
IOL News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Ramokgopa dismisses most assassination claims as 'fake', confirms review of Mashatile's shooting
ANC treasurer general Dr Gwen Ramokgopa has dismissed most allegations of assassination attempts as baseless, but confirmed that the reported shooting incident involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been formally referred to the party's secretariat for further scrutiny. "Usually when there are these reports (of assassination), many of them are fake, actually," Ramokgopa said on Tuesday, speaking to the media at the ANC Northern Cape elective conference. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "We have seen a lot of fake things. We have referred these matters for the secretariat to deal with organisationally, and indeed, in due course, we will respond to that," she said. Ramokgopa added that while the ANC would assess the allegations internally, "it is ultimately the responsibility of the relevant agencies of the state" to investigate such incidents. The alleged shooting, which reportedly happened on March 30, was not made public until Mashatile mentioned it on Sunday during a visit to the KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal. Before addressing the Easter service, Mashatile spoke about the incident, explaining that his vehicle was hit by what he initially believed were stones while driving home from the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg, Gauteng. "When we got home, the protector said the impact was too much. They wanted to take (the vehicle) for checking because a bulletproof windscreen is too strong to be damaged like that, and that's why they are doing the investigation," Mashatile said. His spokesperson, Keith Khoza, confirmed Mashatile was unharmed and said the matter was under investigation by police. South African Police Service (SAPS) national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the SAPS would not comment publicly. "The SAPS does not discuss or comment on the safety and security of the president, deputy president, or cabinet members in the public domain," Mathe said. Earlier, IOL News reported that Professor Jéan Steyn, a criminal justice expert at the University of Zululand, suggested the timing and secrecy surrounding the alleged shooting could indicate internal political tensions within the ANC. "The timing of the incident, post-ANC NEC meeting, and its delayed disclosure could intimate internal ANC dynamics or factionalism," Steyn told IOL News on Tuesday. Mashatile is widely expected to contest for the ANC presidency in 2027. However, insiders suggest that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and secretary-general Fikile Mbalula are also being discussed as possible contenders. The silence from Mashatile's office and the SAPS fuelled speculation on social media, with some users claiming the shooting was staged. Security strategist Andy Mashaile told IOL News that Mashatile might have been advised by the State Security Agency to withhold public comment immediately after the incident. "If the incident happened earlier and he spoke about it only recently, it might mean one thing: he was advised not to disclose it to avoid creating panic," Mashaile said. "You don't want to create an environment where copycats feel encouraged to target blue-light vehicles," he said. IOL Politics
