By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA – The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in the Free State has intensified its campaign to reshape local government leadership, calling for the prioritisation of young, educated candidates in the run-up to the 2026 local government elections.
Provincial chairperson Junior Lehlehla said the league’s “Motjha Palong” (youth to the forefront) resolution is aimed at ensuring municipalities are led by councillors who are both youthful and literate, arguing that this is critical to accelerating service delivery and strengthening governance.
Lehlehla said the push is grounded in the demographic reality that young people constitute the majority of the population and should therefore be at the centre of political leadership.
“The leaders we need are those who understand the lived realities of young people because they are part of that generation,” he said. “We are not apologetic about advocating for young people to lead.”
He stressed that the ANCYL is seeking leaders who experience the daily struggles facing communities, rather than those who engage with such issues from a distance.
“We do not want people who read about youth challenges – we want those who live them, who are embedded in communities and fully understand what young people are going through,” Lehlehla said.
He called on young people both in and outside the ANC to step forward and avail themselves for leadership roles, pledging the league’s full backing for capable candidates.
Central to the “Motjha Palong” proposal is a controversial but firm stance on literacy, with the league arguing that councillors must be able to read, write and interpret complex municipal documents without assistance.
Lehlehla said the current realities of governance demand a higher level of competence.
“Council business is conducted in English, legislation is written in English, and municipal processes require comprehension and interpretation. We need councillors who can engage directly with these systems without relying on intermediaries,” he said.
He added that improving the calibre of councillors would lead to faster decision-making, more robust debates in council chambers and ultimately more effective service delivery.
The ANCYL leader also acknowledged growing public frustration over unfulfilled promises, saying a new generation of capable leaders could help restore confidence in local government.
“Local government is highly legislated. It requires individuals who can read, understand and interpret policy. If we get that right, we can deliver on what has been promised,” he said.
The league’s proposal is expected to spark debate within ANC structures, particularly over the balance between experience and youth, as candidate selection processes for 2026 begin to gather momentum.
