Johannesburg - The newly constituted ANC Youth League (ANCYL) must be at the forefront of economic transformation, ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday.
"We look to you to enrich our understanding of radical economic transformation and advance policies that will free young people from a life of want and indignity," he told delegates at the ANCYL's national congress in Midrand, Johannesburg.
"[The ANCY] needs to ensure young people become active in our economy."
The ANCYL needed to implement the National Development Plan, the ANC's 2012 congress resolutions and last year's election manifesto.
"It must become a youth league deeply immersed in all the drivers that are going to deliver economic emancipation of our people," he said.
"It must be a youth league that values knowledge."
Ramaphosa said education and skills development needed to be at the centre of the ANCYL's programme.
He said as president Jacob Zuma travelled around the world, he was always offered training opportunities for South Africans.
"The youth league needs to mobilise young people to take advantage of many learning and training opportunities. The ANCYL needs to be at the forefront of the struggle for better funding for education."
The deputy president touched on the recent allegations of racism at universities around the country.
"We must state... there is no place for racism in institutions of higher learning in South Africa.
"Those who believe apartheid can have a safe haven in these institutions, must know it has no place," Ramaphosa said.
The ANCYL had to unite the young people of the country, said Ramaphosa.
"The ANCYL must be seen as the light to young people in our country. We must be able to be the light that is shining and attracts the moths," he said.