Sign up with GoogleAddressing journalists ahead of its mid- term conference yesterday, the league’s natsional secretary, Buti Manamela, said the military training — in the form of a “national service” — would expose young people to the defence sector and benefit South Africa in the long run by giving them additional skills to enter the job market.
Manamela said the training would also assist in the event that military action was required to protect South Africa from “danger”, and would contribute to the fight against crime.
Trained soldiers would be able to participate in humanitarian aid missions.
The YCL leader said military training should be provided for matriculants and school leavers who are struggling to get into institutions of higher learning.
Manamela said the government would have to “redirect” much of the funding it was giving to sector education and training authorities .
The YCL, however, stressed that it was not a call for conscription.
Before starting their conference today, YCL delegates are expected to converge on the SABC’s headquarters in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the national broadcaster.
The YCL will hold a rally in Alexandra, Johannesburg, at the conclusion of its conference on Sunday. The rally is due to be addressed by President Kgalema Motlanthe, in his capacity as ANC deputy leader, and South African Communist Party boss Blade Nzimande.
Manamela said the training would also assist in the event that military action was required to protect South Africa from “danger”, and would contribute to the fight against crime.
Trained soldiers would be able to participate in humanitarian aid missions.
The YCL leader said military training should be provided for matriculants and school leavers who are struggling to get into institutions of higher learning.
Manamela said the government would have to “redirect” much of the funding it was giving to sector education and training authorities .
The YCL, however, stressed that it was not a call for conscription.
Before starting their conference today, YCL delegates are expected to converge on the SABC’s headquarters in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the national broadcaster.
The YCL will hold a rally in Alexandra, Johannesburg, at the conclusion of its conference on Sunday. The rally is due to be addressed by President Kgalema Motlanthe, in his capacity as ANC deputy leader, and South African Communist Party boss Blade Nzimande.
