ANCYL growth shouldn't be at expense of ANC character: Zuma

The growth of the ANC Youth League should not be at the expense of its mother body, the ANC, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday afternoon.

“Our mobilisation tools should not change the character of the African National Congress,” Zuma said.

He was addressing thousands of ANCYL delegates attending the first day of the five-day ANCYL 24th congress at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Zuma said there was a need to guard against changing the character of the ANC in the process of growing the youth wing, saying that the ruling party remained the liberator of the South African people.

“The ANC delivered the political freedom to our people and it is  only the ANC which will deliver the economic freedom,” he said.

Zuma thanked the ANCYL for helping the ANC to garner overwhelming support during the May 18 local government elections.  

Congress delegates are expected to elect new ANCYL leaders on Friday.