Ramaphosa appeals to ANCYL to save deteriorating ANC and lobby young people

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses delegates at Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, 8 December 2025, during the 5th ANC NGC. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed to the ANCYL to lobby young people to support the ANC. This comes as the party is witnessing a sharp decline in support in most provinces with analysts predicting that the party will go below 30% at next years local government elections.

The ANC is currently in a coalition government nationally with parties such as the DA and other smaller parties. They suffered their first defeat at the general elections last year. Ramaphosa was speaking at the ANCYL elective conference in Polokwane on Monday.

“You as delegates to this conference must redefine for yourselves how the ANCYL can more effectively mobilise young people behind the African National Congress and how you should do it effectively is to champion the interests of young people,” he said. Ramaphosa said the ANCYL plays an important part of the party’s renewal programme which he has championed since he became ANC president. He said the youth league must collaborate with the mother body on matters such as political education and making sure that the ANC is in touch with communities and young people around the country.

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“Young people in our country are hungry to find a home; young people in our country want direction and you are the closest agent of change. You are the mobiliser to bring young people together and to champion the interests of young people,” he said. Ramaphosa also said the ANCYL has the responsibility of mobilising the youth towards participating in the upcoming local government election in big numbers.

This statement comes in the context of the ANC admitting that they hadlost some votes through voter apathy. Ramaphosa said the youth is playing a more serious role in the ANC. He pointed out that the recent National General Council (NGC) that the party hosted had more young people than ever before.

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