4.Youth League hands
with SALTA
The Young Communist League (YCL) and the South
African Liquor Association (SALTA) held a bilateral meeting
on Wednesday following the League’s 2 ND National Congress
resolution to close shebeens that are within the proximity
of schools.
The following representatives attended the meeting from
these organisations:
Education Alliance:
Congress of South African Students - COSAS
South African Democratic Teachers Union – SADTU
Young Communist League - YCLSA
South African Liquor Traders Association:
National Executive Committee
National Tourism and Hospitality Association – NTHA
Members of SALTA Gauteng
Members of SALTA Meadowlands
The National Secretary of the YCL, Buti Manamela led the
delegation of the YCL and the Education Alliance SALTA delegation
was led by its President Saint Madlala.
Both organisations share the same concerns around the easy
access of liquor by learners and teachers.
The YCL recommitted itself to work collectively and also
include other stakeholders who might play a positive role
in addressing the challenges of consumption of liquor by
learners and restore the dignity of the education system,
and uphold the culture of learning and teaching.
The meeting also appreciated the fact that through engagement
and dialogue common ground can be found to the benefit of
all learners, communities and the education system broadly.
It was also emphasised that without open dialogue it would
not be easy to achieve the objectives of the solutions needed
on dealing with challenges facing the youth.
Thee two organisations further agreed that the majority
of shebeens are a means of survival to some families as a
result of unemployment and retrenchments as a result of the
current economic situation of our country.
It was greed that shebeens owners will embark on a national
campaign to enforce their code of conduct to their members
and other owners who are not affiliated to them.
“As the Young Communist League we call on our communities
to work with us in rooting out these problems and challenges
facing our education and more especially learners and teachers
because it denies them the opportunity to acquire knowledge
within a conducive environment.”
It was agreed that both organisations will jointly convene
a National Forum which will include various stakeholders
to discuss some of the issues and find a common ground on
others. A working group will be set up to facilitate the
Forum.
The National Forum will amongst other issues focus on the
following:
The policies that govern or regulates the industry;
The relocation of shebeens where their business viability
Introduction of recreational programmes in schools and communities
etc.
SALTA and the YCL hereby urge all liquor traders who are
within the proximity of schools to close their operations
during school hours in the interest of the education of learners.
We further call on them not to allow learners and teachers
access to their shebeens. We further call on teachers and
learners not to go to shebeens as this interferes with learning
and teaching.
In the meantime SALTA will be consulting members on the
outcome of our meeting at its general meeting to be held
within the next 30 days in order to effect the 'four hour
closure' for those within the radius of schools as a resolution.
5 . We deserve better
public service
