24th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE IFP YOUTH BRIGADE

Emandleni-Matleng: September 6 - 8, 2002

RESOLUTION 1: 

THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN PROMOTING A 'HUMAN RIGHTS' APPROACH TO THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC

Conference noting:

1. the HIV/AIDS pandemic is decimating the youth of our nation in tragic proportions, leaving a legacy of misery, despair and bereavement in its wake; and

2. there is an urgent need to promote a 'human-rights' based culture that is focused on mobilising all available human resources and human capital to turn the tide of this scourge

RESOLVES

1. to call upon the youth of our Party and of the nation to be at the forefront of a paradigm shift in society to embrace people living with HIV/AIDS with love, compassion and care to remove the stigma that is associated with this disease;

2. to commend His Excellency the President for the role he played in articulating a clear and unequivocal message about HIV/AIDS and for his landmark speech to the National Assembly on February 12 2002 which captured the position he has always taken on this matter;

3. to commend the Premiers of KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng for the resolve and courage they demonstrated by providing anti-retroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus;

4. and condemns the inertia and often ill expressed sentiments expressed by the National Minister of Health about HIV/AIDS

RESOLUTION 2: 

THE FLOOR-CROSSING LEGISLATION

Conference noting:

1. the recent floor-crossing legislation flagrantly disregards the political rights of the electorate which allows votes secured by a particular party to be transferred to another party without the expressed consent of the people and which does not portend well for the future of multi-party democracy in South Africa;

2. the defections represent an appalling betrayal of trust by public representatives that were mandated by their party to represent them

1. to call upon the IFP National Council to expel all turncoats from the Party;

2. to call upon the IFP National Council to ensure that in 2004 all candidates are supported and elected by their constituencies

3. to call upon the leadership of the IFPYB to lobby that the youth who have demonstrated loyalty and service to the Party are adequately represented in all levels of governance

Conference noting:

1. that it is of critical importance to the future of democracy in our country to transform the IFPYB into an 'academy of democracy', which will nurture and produce young democrats

1. to mobilise our youth through a programme of democracy building and participation, so that they are infused with the democratic principle and the spirit of freedom and responsibility to work towards the consolidation of South Africa's democracy

2. to call upon the IFPYB National Executive to set up a Democracy Development desk with a view to monitoring and evaluating democratic consolidation

Conference noting:

1. Noting that there is an urgent need for Ubuntu-botho, which emphasises our integral humanity and compassion in our torn and broken society; to reach out to the needs of one another and to sacrifice and care for one another

1. to call upon the youth and all who cherish democracy and freedom to join together to spread Ubuntu-botho by the Revolution of Goodwill and to form institutions and partnerships that will underpin this mission

2. to retain and continue to inculcate respect amongst the youth and elders

3. to call for the integration of the teaching of Ubuntu-botho into the school curricula

Conference noting

1, that is has long been the strategy of the IFP to identify, mobilise, train and prepare responsible leaders of integrity whilst they are still in institutions of learning, especially institutions of Higher Education:

1. to call upon the IFPYB to redouble its efforts to vigorously pursue this viable strategy and call upon the leadership of the Party to collectively mobilise resources that will help empower and develop our youth; and

2. to urge the IFP leadership to adopt and assist SADESMO branches in various tertiary institutions as SADESMO is a potential pool of our future leadership

Conference noting:

1. that the digital economy and the communication superhighway is transforming the world into an ever shrinking, interconnected 'global village'; and

2. that human capital is the most important commodity in the global economy

1. to help prepare the youth of this country to become knowledge-rich and to utilise the principles of self-help and self-reliance to create opportunities for themselves from the process of globalisation in Africa

2. to call upon the National Executive of the IFPYB to establish a international network of political parties to exchange the latest ideas

3. to work with other organisations to counter xenophobia against foreign nationals and attract skilled labour

Conference noting:

1. that the youth's economic participation is essential to the long-term economic success and prosperity of South Africa;

2. youth empowerment and development are the prerequisites of youth economic participation; and

3. the Umsobomvu Youth Fund has still not been utilised despite the spiralling levels of youth unemployment to over 40%

1. to promote and co-ordinate self-help, self-reliance and self-development programmes and entrepreneurial projects;

2. to promote vocational skills programmes; and

3. to call upon the Minister of Labour to unlock the Umsobomvu Youth Fund so that young people can become job-creators

Conference noting:

1. to secure an IFP victory in the 2004 General Election it is necessary to immediately embark on a focused campaign of electoral activities; and

2. a increased pool of eighteen year olds will be voting for the first time

1. to call upon the IFPYB to spearhead electoral activities for the 2004 General Election by countering new voters apathy;

2. to embark upon a campaign of voter ID registration and awareness; and

3. to increase our parliamentary seats across all nine provinces

Conference noting:

1. the people of Zimbabwe are experiencing an unprecedented political crisis in their history due to the wrong and unworkable policies that are being implemented;

2. shortages of food will soon lead to malnutrition, starvation and the loss of many lives; and

3. the crisis has the potential to render NEPAD untenable in the chanceries of the world and has far-reaching consequences for the wider region of Southern Africa; and

4. the quiet diplomacy of the South African government has completely failed to resolve the Zimbabwean situation

Conference noting:

1. the wisdom and the far-sightedness of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi's vision to establish the IFPYB almost a quarter-of-a-century ago; and

2. the existence of the IFPYB demonstrates the commitment of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to create an environment that produces leadership of the highest calibre

RESOLVES to express our heartfelt gratitude and affection to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi for;

1. his shining example of service and courage in the most adverse of circumstances;

And wishes furthermore,

1. God's richest blessings upon him, good health, happiness and a long life