THE LAUNCH of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO) in April, bringing together around 500,000 young people organised in regional youth congresses is an important step in strengthening the struggle against the South African regime.
in conditions of elaborate secrecy, SAYCO's slogan is 'Freedom or death, victory is certain'.
EPHRAIM NKOE and SIMON NTOMBELA, representatives national leadership SAYCO are visiting Britain to appeal for solidarity with their struggle.
"The of South ed in the last year are Africa LIC under 25 As Ephraim Nkoe explained: "youth are at the port our forefront of every struggle politically, against the Hul ally. "The SAYCO itself was an important element in the success of the recent two day. stayaway.
Their to Every attempt organise and lead this acly hy the regime: ANC Youth League, established rands was banned 1960; the South African Movemenl the Soweto emergence nepresentauve LOACH. which led the students revolt against racist kantu' education, were banned in 1977; and COSAS, formed in 1979, was banntremendous repression ed in 1985. aimed halting the In addition to direct repression the regime has Licu weaker une youth's action by suppor8000 people over ung organisations Ilke the Inkatha Brigade coercing five months alone, the ranks of the vigilantes. bulk of the 25,000 detain- Simon Ntombela explained: 'high levels of unempicyment ana repres sion are used the suppor vigilantes.
•Whereas in the past we could concentrate our efforts on the regime, now we nave lo beware or une vigilantes the tiltrators In the process we have lost some of our people, our leadership and organisers.' More than simply overregime sabotage the students, SAYCO's mation has take account of the widening composition ailu focus of those youth in struggle Since banning COSAS continuing economic crisis has seen more unemploved and township youth drawn into action. situation SAYCO banned, support November, stayaway srand.
UDF, ing even which aiming to being helped WitwaterSAYCO with Eleven-year-old Kaduka, recently prison. Nearly 9000 or suen vown nove been detained in the first five months of ine sure o emergency.
COSATU Simon Ntombela explained that solidarity, the main reason for Visiting billaln, now more crucial than ever. Although the run un to the white only elections show•ed that 'the racist political monolith is beginning to crack' having got his manCala Botha is now launching a head U11 with the movement.
Aware What is needed in Britain is straightforward. Firstly we are calling or the youth and students in through their organisations to the entire population aware of atrocities committed by apartheid 'Secondly we are calling for action to put of atFiji Trade ban support rural of mering enrects drought, world price. as mination 'Indian' For the In however, the Federation tions.
allegiance Indian farmers, worker however.
Nine the Bavadra's cabinet al c both inthe All youth in recent have shown, tial exists to organise the last Movement which agreed steps ference Ol gallising action mark - 16" South of these, with Many section limiting solidarity do exist, such BirmManchestel done The SAYCO's visit is clear help build an AAM nanonalyouth section solidarity with SAYCO, • While in Britain, Simon Ntombela and Ephraim NKo€ available speak at labour movement meetings and can • be conthe AAM office on 01-387 7966.
the this had chiefs, digenous the realism' THE TGWU has been hitting the headlines recently. largest union has traditionally played a left of-centre role in the labour movement. But reports in national and KLal newspapers indicate sharp differences within the union about its future policies.
TGWU Ron Todd's election as general secretary was hotly contested Welsh Georg Wright, regiona secretary. Allegations ballot rigging led to a re VOLC eelected. Yet at the 198 biennia delegate ference (BDC) shortly afterwards, right-wing challenge was mounted over acceptance of Tory trade union laws witch-hunts of socialists and olner Issues disagreements and melia series leaks since then point to continuing disagreements Todd members of the executive Long-runlig regional seinetary in he regional south-west; over the dismissal and subsequent reinstatement of left winger, Alan Quinn, the executive; and the recent publicity 'Lon doners tor Labour shor disagreements spilling over into areas of general concern in the labour move.
men New realism' — modifying the role of the unions to render them more comemployers capitalist politicians clearly gaining ground the union 'Londoners for chairperson Nicholson openly critical of the left-wing London relnorcing anti-Labour Party propagand oi Norman Tebbitt the like. It is launched at a time when the TGWU as a whole ploughing resources and effort into