The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in KwaZulu-Natal brought Durban to a standstill on Monday when they marched against the ongoing unemployment crisis in eThekwini.

Hundreds of young people, led by ANCYL president Collen Malatji, braved the rain and marched through the streets of eThekwini, demanding urgent government intervention to tackle youth unemployment.

The march follows a series of calls by the ANCYL for decisive action on what they have labelled a “national disaster” of joblessness among the youth.

Among the participants was ANC eThekwini region secretary, Musa Nciki, and deputy chairperson, Thembo Ntuli.

In high spirits and chanting Struggle songs, the ANCYL marched from King Dinuzulu Park through Pixley KaSeme Street (West Street) to the Durban City Hall where they handed over a memorandum of demands to City officials.

Some of the the ANCYL’s demands include the creation of millions of job opportunities through government programmes and policies that favour youth employment, including a call for an unemployment grant to help young people navigate the job market.

Some of them hoisted placards bearing the words: “Unemployment is a crisis! Let’s turn challenges into opportunities.”

Malatji said as the ANCYL NEC they had told President Cyril Ramaphosa to quickly attend to the unemployment crisis that was spiralling out of control.

He said the ANCYL at national level was organising a march against unemployment to the Union Buildings in Pretoria and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

Malatji also said the issue of illegal foreigners was a big contributing factor to unemployment.

“We are saying everyone must participate in making sure that the youth of this country is employed.

“Unemployment drives our people to drugs, alcohol and crime.

“This is why we are saying if you want to end crime and drugs in this country the first thing that you must do is to end the unemployment of the youth.

“We are also saying all the illegal foreigners must leave this country immediately.

“Everyone illegal in this country must leave, because everyone who wants to come to South Africa must go through the legal routes.

“Jobs in factories and restaurants are given to illegal foreigners because businesses are able to exploit them and they know they cannot complain about their rights. Tomorrow, every unemployed young person must go to the nearest factory, firm, restaurant and if they find any illegal foreigners, they must remove them and start working,” said Malatji.

Ntuli said as the ANC in eThekwini Region, they had always fought for the empowerment of young people.

“The unemployment of our young people is unexplainable.

Young people, you must stand up and fight for your own revolution.

The real cause of the ANCYL is to champion for jobs and economic freedom among young people.

“The Youth League must always be at the centre to fight the battles of the young people.

“We are also saying the work experience requirement must be removed, because it is discriminatory against young graduates.”

Receiving the memorandum from the Mayor’s office, Mlungisi Ntombela said the municipality would communicate with the ANCYL in eThekwini within seven days.

The Mercury