The African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday celebrated the “indomitable spirit” of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), calling on the next generation of members to carry the torch forward with “even greater intensity”.

The ANCYL was created at the house of Walter Sisulu in Soweto, on September 10, 1944, when founders Anton Lembede, A.P. Mda, Jordan Ngubane, Nelson Mandela, and Oliver Tambo saw that the party was “weighed down by a conservative older generation”.

The ANC said the founders “dared to challenge the status quo”, and ignited the flame of a militant youth movement that would transform the liberation struggle.

The ANC saluted past and present ANCYL leadership who it said fearlessly championed the cause of the oppressed.

“They have not only adapted to changing times but have shown that the revolutionary spirit cannot be dimmed. As the ANCYL celebrates this historic milestone, it must deepen its revolutionary role, bringing political education to the masses and igniting the fire of activism in every corner of the country,” the ANC said.

The ANC said since its inception, the Youth League had never wavered in its mission to fight for true democracy in South Africa and across the African continent.

“The young lions have led from the front, advancing the economic, cultural, educational, and political emancipation of our people. They understood that the struggle was not just about political liberation, but the total liberation of the African people from the chains of oppression in every sphere of life,” the ANC stated.

It said it recognised the “vital role” the ANCYL has played over the decades.

“…from defying apartheid’s brutal regime to shaping the post-apartheid struggle for economic freedom, the Youth League has proven time and again that it is a force to be reckoned with. However, the struggle is far from over,” the party said.

The ANC pointed out that challenges of today demand even more radical action from the youth, such as the fight for economic justice, the battle against unemployment, inequality, and poverty, describing it as “modern-day frontlines”.