A few hundred ANC Youth League members marched in Bloemfontein on Wednesday demanding better economic empowerment opportunities from the government.
“The youth is sick and tired of the situation in the Free State,” said provincial ANCYL chairman Kgotso Morapela.
The group accused the provincial government of failing to appreciate the reality that youth were the most affected by unemployment and economic exclusion.
The group demanded sustainable youth co-operatives linked to public expenditure in every municipality.
Free State ANCYL secretary general Lebogang Mogoera said these interventions had been proposed to the government for many years, but that little had happened so far.
An “exclusionist approach on procurement” followed by the Free State government should come to an end.
Mogoera said it appeared businesses linked to powerful officials and politicians got the most government business.
“It is a matter that requires attention because in its own nature it has a strong possibility to tarnish the integrity of what the ANC stands for.”
The group wanted to hand over the memorandum to Free State premier Ace Magashule, but he was unavailable. Several placards carried in the crowd displayed opposition to Magashule’s leadership.
Free State finance MEC Seiso Mohai received the memorandum. – Sapa