Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania
| Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Chairperson | Thabani "Small" Zondo |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Johannesburg |
| Mother party | Pan Africanist Congress of Azania |
| Magazine | Mayihlome News |
| Website | |
| http://mayihlomenews.co.za | |
Pan Africanist Youth Congress(PAYCO) is the youth wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in South Africa. This youth movement used to be named AZANYU (Azanian Youth Unity) until it was later renamed PAYCO in 1997. PAYCO was founded in 1981. It held its first congress in 1986. Notable former presidents of PAYCO are Linda Ndebele 2009, Hulisani Mbara 2007, Sibusiso Xaba 2005, Matome Mashao 2003, Cameron Tabane 1999, Wonder Masombuka 1997, Mosotho Petlane 1993, Ntsie Mohlai, Zingile Mkhabile, Dan Mofokeng 1983, Arthur Moleko 1981.
AZANYU days
PAYCO was founded in 1981 as AZANYU and held its first congress in 1983. AZANYU was founded when its mother body, the PAC, was banned along with many of its leadership. AZANYU was founded to develop the PAC underground structures inside South Africa and to recruit soldiers for the people's army, APLA (Azanian Peoples Liberation Army). The founding president of AZANYU was Arthur Moleko, who was later arrested on his way from Botswana. AZANYU was largely confined in the Witwatersrand in its early days.
The formation of AZANYU was directly directed by the PAC external mission hence its material such as cards, letterheads and T-shirts were first printed in Botswana under the direction of Pat Khohlo who was the Chief Representative then.
Key figures to the founding of AZANYU were comrades Carter Seleka, Sipho Ngcobo, Sipho Mzolo, Zodwa Mshibe, Ruth Bengu and Arthur Moleko (who later died in exile)
Amongst its many achievements AZANYU founded NACTU, AWO and PAM in the 80's to increase the profile of PAC inside South Africa. AZANYU operated in the same office as the African Allied Workers Union which was founded by Dikgang Moseneke and Willie Seriti.
As part of its operations, AZANYU also infiltrated Unions of CUSA which ensured its nationwide presence. AZANYU contributed tremendously to the survival of PAC as it produced cadres who were ideologically advanced. During these years, Azania News was still a vibrant ideological tribune, and was used in classes with articles written by Nyathi Pokela and Edwin Makoti.
Key figures in the early days of AZANYU were Joe Tholoe, Thami Mazwai, and Phillip Dlamini. To help spread AZANYU beyond the Witwatersrand AZANYU cadres like Cunningham Ngcukana and Serame Molefi played a pivotal role. Serame Molefi was active in Bloemfontein, in Cape Town there was Fezile Mvula, Molefo Modiga was in Pimville and Cunningham Ngcukana helped s[read AZANYU across the Western and Eastern Cape. In the Eastern Cape it was comrades like Mngaza, Boniswa Ngcukana and Malusi Koli who made the mission possible. In the Western Cape it was comrades like Twelve Fudumele and Fezile Mvula who ensure that AZANYU operations where successful. Justice Lebea took ensured that AZANYU became a success in Kwazulu Natal as he worked through universities to spread AZANYU nationwide.
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Wikipedia