ANCYL
By Thabo Mosia
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in the Free State led by Provincial Chairperson Junior Lehlehla has taken a bold stand against Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, accusing her administration of failing to tackle the province’s worsening youth unemployment crisis. On 17 June 2025, the league announced plans for a massive provincial Youth March to the Premier’s Office on Monday, 30 June 2025, to demand urgent action. With over 442,000 young people aged 15-34 not in employment, education, or training (NEET), the ANCYL is calling for a “New Youth Deal” to address what they describe as a “mass grave of dreams.” The march, starting from the ANC Free State Provincial Office, will see thousands of frustrated youth submitting their CVs as a powerful symbol of their exclusion from the economy. This protest highlights deep anger over a provincial budget that the league slams as inadequate and rooted in neo-liberal policies, setting the stage for a showdown with the Free State government.
The Free State is grappling with a youth unemployment crisis that has reached alarming levels. More than 442,000 young people—ranging from graduates to rural youth—are classified as NEET, making the province the hardest hit in South Africa. This figure surpasses the national average, painting a grim picture of lost potential and growing despair. The ANCYL has listed the affected groups in stark terms: graduates misled by the promise that education opens doors, students with qualifications that lead nowhere, discouraged jobseekers who’ve given up hope, and township hustlers surviving on the margins. Rural youth face crumbling infrastructure, young women endure unemployment compounded by gender inequality, and creative talents languish without support.
The league’s statement on 17 June 2025 minced no words: “This is not just a statistic. It is a mass grave of dreams.” They argue that the provincial government’s R45.8 billion budget for 2025/26, tabled by MEC for Finance Ketso Makume on 29 May 2025, fails to prioritise the youth. Instead, they see a focus on fiscal restraint and private sector reliance, which they claim betrays the ANC’s historic commitment to a developmental state as outlined in the Freedom Charter. With no targeted industrialisation strategy or green jobs programme, the ANCYL warns that the province risks a “revolt of the excluded,” drawing chilling parallels to the Arab Spring.
A Province in Crisis: The Youth Unemployment Emergency
The ANCYL: Champions of the Youth or a Fading Force?
Founded in 1944 by icons like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, the ANC Youth League has long been a fierce advocate for South Africa’s youth. Its mission, enshrined in its constitution, is to unite young people aged 14-35 and lead them in tackling their challenges, while rallying support for the ANC. Historically, the league played a key role in the anti-apartheid struggle and has a legacy of bold activism—such as the 2015 march to the Union Buildings for free education. Today, it positions itself as the voice of a generation sidelined by economic exclusion.
But the ANCYL isn’t without its struggles. Leadership disputes and a perceived drop in influence have weakened its clout in recent years. Despite this, the Free State branch is determined to reclaim its relevance through action. Their decision to mark Youth Month with a protest rather than celebration reflects a refusal to accept “hollow victories.” The planned march on 30 June 2025 is framed as a “march of responsibility and revolutionary duty,” aimed at forcing the provincial government to act.
The Budget Under Fire: Promises vs Reality
The Free State’s 2025/26 budget, delivered by MEC Ketso Makume, totals R45.8 billion, with a three-year Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) projection of R141.4 billion. Key allocations include R18.8 billion for education, R14.1 billion for health, and R5.2 billion for infrastructure—42% of which targets roads and transport. Makume hailed the budget as a step toward economic recovery, citing improved audit outcomes (no adverse or disclaimer opinions for the first time in nine years) and a commitment to pay suppliers within 30 days. He also stressed cost containment, including a skills audit and early retirement strategy to make room for younger workers.
Yet, the ANCYL sees this as too little, too late. They slam the budget for lacking a youth-focused industrial policy, investment in township economies, or a robust rollout of the Presidential Employment Stimulus. “The obsession with fiscal restraint over social investment,” they argue, reflects a neo-liberal stance that prioritises balanced books over people’s lives. The league points to the absence of initiatives like youth cooperatives or green jobs, accusing the government of recycling promises that don’t match the crisis’s urgency.
New Details Emerge: A Deeper Look at the Crisis
Beyond the ANCYL’s statement, the youth unemployment crisis in the Free State is worsened by broader economic trends. South Africa’s GDP growth is projected to limp along at 1.4% in 2025, rising slightly to 1.8% by 2027/28, according to national forecasts. This sluggish growth limits the fiscal space for job creation, a challenge Makume acknowledged in his speech. In the Free State, municipal financial woes add fuel to the fire—only 8 of 23 municipalities submitted funded budgets for 2025, hampering local development efforts that could employ youth.
Social media chatter reveals growing unrest. Young people are voicing frustration over unpaid internships, delayed government projects, and a lack of opportunities in rural areas like QwaQwa and Botshabelo. Some have accused the Premier of focusing on urban infrastructure while neglecting township and rural youth, who face higher barriers to entry-level jobs. These grievances amplify the ANCYL’s call for structural transformation, not just stopgap measures.
The “New Youth Deal”: A Bold Vision
The ANCYL isn’t just protesting—they’re proposing solutions. Their “New Youth Deal” demands:
- Public employment programmes to absorb jobless youth.
- Economic redistribution to tackle inequality.
- Structural transformation, including targeted industrialisation.
- Green jobs to merge environmental goals with employment.
- Youth cooperatives to support township entrepreneurs.
- Rural and township investment to bridge opportunity gaps.
This vision rejects handouts in favour of a democratic, inclusive economy. The league has rallied a broad coalition—students, artisans, creatives, athletes, and rural youth—to join the march and amplify their demands. “Enough is Enough! Jobs Now, Not Later! No More Excuses!” is their battle cry, echoing across the province.
The Premier’s Defence: A Balancing Act
Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, supported by Makume’s budget speech, defends the government’s approach. The R5.2 billion infrastructure investment, they argue, will boost economic connectivity and create indirect jobs. Education’s R18.8 billion allocation includes school infrastructure upgrades, while health’s R14.1 billion aims to improve service delivery—both sectors that employ young professionals. The Premier’s office, allocated R633 million, oversees these efforts, with Makume touting fiscal prudence as a foundation for sustainable growth.
But the ANCYL counters that indirect benefits won’t cut it. They want direct, youth-specific interventions, not trickle-down promises. The budget’s silence on youth unemployment as a standalone priority fuels their accusation of neglect.
A Ticking Time Bomb: What’s at Stake?
The ANCYL’s warning of a “ticking time bomb” isn’t hyperbole. With youth unemployment driving poverty and crime, the Free State faces a potential powder keg. The league’s reference to the Arab Spring—a wave of youth-led uprisings—underscores the risk of ignoring this crisis. If the march draws the thousands they expect, it could mark a turning point, pressuring the government to act or face escalating unrest.
The protest’s symbolic CV handover highlights a personal toll: young people who feel invisible to a system that’s failed them. For many, 30 June 2025 isn’t just a march—it’s a last stand for hope.
