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The African National Congress (ANC) has called on its national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, to clarify comments he made about unemployed young people, which have sparked widespread criticism.
Mantashe came under fire after a television interview in which he suggested that jobless youth were unwilling to apply for employment opportunities, a claim that triggered backlash across political and civil society circles.
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The ANC Youth League, along with several organisations, condemned the remarks, describing them as ignorant and tone-deaf at a time when youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges.
ANC leadership responds to backlash over youth unemployment remarks
Addressing the issue at the annual Peter Mokaba Memorial Lecture in the North West on Friday evening, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the matter could not be left unresolved and required immediate clarification from Mantashe.
“That matter must be clarified. If it isn’t clarified, it will remain that the national chair said that young people are lazy and aren’t applying for jobs. That’s what the media has said,” mouthed Mbalula.
Mbalula emphasised that without a clear explanation, the perception created by the comments would continue to damage the party’s standing among young South Africans.
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According to Mbalula, Mantashe has privately indicated that he was misquoted, despite the remarks being made during a live television broadcast.
“If he does not clarify himself, I will issue a statement on behalf of the ANC to reprimand him. If those are his views, they cannot be the views of the national chair of the ANC.”
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The ANC leadership now faces pressure to address the fallout, as the controversy adds to growing frustration among young people struggling to access employment opportunities across the country.
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