Malema Leaves Yet The Youth Remains

By Khanya Memela

Julius Malema has been stripped of his title as ANC Youth League president. Some say it was bound to happen; others disagree with the final decision made by the ruling party. Irrespective of all that was stated the burning question, is where does removal of Julius Malema leave the youth of South Africa?

Julius Malema has had a political career filled with criticism as a result of the choices he made. As the ANC Youth League leader he was expected to perform a number of duties.  All were all intended to address the problems facing the South African youth: serious issues of unemployment, lack of education and HIV/AIDS.  The youth in South Africa make up the biggest demographic group and the position of Head of the Youth league is a difficult one to hold.

Malema is a man who made some questionable choices, many believed that he was not right for this daunting position. With the removal of Malema from the Youth League one must ask the question as to whether all the challenges faced by the youth can be solved by one individual.  With or without Malema in power the challenges we face as the youth of South Africa will remain until a greater change occurs.

This greater change needs to be within the mind sets of our youth and within our current ruling government. In terms of the youth, we need to adopt a mentality where ambition is our main driving force and the issue of laziness is never a restricting factor within our own development as the youth of this country. In respect to our current government, a development in the way it operates needs to occur in order for there to be a change in our educational system, which will result in a change in the many other problems we face as the youth of South Africa.

There needs to be constant development whenever we elect and remove a leader from power. Malema proved unsuitable for the job. A more adequate leader is required to champion youth issues with government.  There must be a change in thinking to help change the mind-set of our youth to make change.  The challenges our youth face are slowing down change in South Africa.