The ANCYL gets a pretty bad rap in the media. This is, of course, partly their own fault — suggesting that Helen Zille is "sleeping around" with her "concubines" and vowing to "kill for Zuma" invites ridicule and condemnation.

But there is also an element to this love-hate relationship that is self-sustaining. The media (and, more importantly, the public) waits with bated breath for the ANCYL to utter some new and sensational insult and the ANCYL obliges because it knows that doing so will ensure that the league and its controversial leader are splashed across the front pages of newspapers.

Unfortunately, this leaves the country with a level of political engagement which is, at best, infantile. In an attempt to move beyond this tit-for-tat discourse, we chatted to ANCYL spokesperson Nyiko Floyd Shivambu.

Elected to the position of spokesperson in June 2008, Shivambu, who is also Head of Political Education, Policy and Research at the ANCYL, has had to weather the fallout from Julius Malema's confrontational leadership style. The 26-year-old former political science student has also come under fire, personally, for his explanation (or rather lack thereof) of the organisation's most recent attack on the 'racist' Helen Zille.

Having cut his political teeth in the South African Students' Congress, whilst a student at Wits University, Shivambu found his political home in the South African Communist Party, before moving across to the ANCYL. He currently works as a project manager at the left-leaning Chris Hani Institute.

Rebekah Kendal: The ANCYL is often in the media spotlight. What, if any, problems have you encountered as the organisation's spokesperson?

Floyd Shivambu: There are no major problems we encounter, despite the deliberate distortions of what we say in the public discourse, particularly by newspaper editors.

RK: You have, at best, a rocky relationship with the media. As an organisation, do you feel deliberately maligned by the media and, if so, why?

FS: There is a broader challenge of refusal by journalists and editors to pay attention to details of what the ANCYL does and says, which in turn leads to mediocrity of coverage of ANCYL programmes and statements. It is unfortunate.

RK: On to a fairly hot topic at the moment… Why do you think the voters in the Western Cape chose the DA over the ANC?

FS: Because the DA successfully played the Zuma-gevaar and swart-gevaar ticket in its elections message, thus frightening the white and coloured population to believe that ANC president Zuma is incapable of leading South Africa. This was also worsened by the fact that our structures were not ready to adequately respond to the challenges of certain communities' fears.

RK: Most recently, the ANCYL has come under criticism for some rather personal attacks on Helen Zille. Do you believe that slander is the best level of engagement or could your interaction with the premier perhaps be more constructive?

FS: The ANCYL chose to rough-tackle Helen Zille by telling the truth that she represents apartheid value-systems of racism and sexism. We have licence to call things in their rightful names, and we did exactly that with Helen Zille.

RK: Militancy seems to be integral to the ANCYL's approach to politics, what is the reason for this?

FS: Militancy and radicalism is the best way for youth organisations to win battles in whatever historical conjecture. In the current period, the ANCYL utilises militancy and radicalism to achieve developmental gains for youth, including the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency and prioritisation of youth development across all government spheres. We will continue to speak with the necessary vigour to ensure countless other victories for youth in South Africa.

RK: What are the ANCYL's top five focus areas for the next five years?

Our priorities are in line with the ANC's strategic outlook, yet our areas of emphasis of issues pertaining to youth include, but (are) not limited to: free quality education, training and skills development for all; youth development; dedicated fight against HIV/Aids; dedicated fight against alcohol and substance abuse; and job creation.

RK: What role do you think that the youth have in determining South Africa's future?

FS: Young people have the courage and determination to build a better South Africa. The record turn-out of youth in the 2009 general elections validates the fact that young people indeed care about South Africa's future and consolidation of democracy.

RK: The ANCYL's leader Julius Malema often gets a bad rap in the press. What does the organisation see in the man that the media has overlooked?

FS: ANCYL president Julius Malema is not shaped and refuses to be shaped by the media, because he knows that to be a construction of the media is not durable. He respects the ANC and collective leadership of the ANCYL and always seeks to represent the feeling of the leadership collective. He understands the character of the ANCYL and takes his work very seriously. He is always ready to do organisational work to the fullest, because he has the interests of young people at heart.

RK: Finally, if you could invite any five politicians (dead or living) to dinner, who would they be and why?

FS: Karl Marx (greatest social scientist, historical materialist, economist and great teacher of all times); Vladimir Lenin (charismatic leader of the first socialist revolution, who understood the deeper detail of the relationship between theory and practice); Chris Hani (selfless, militant, honest and charismatic leader of the South African revolution, whose humility and selflessness defined his greatness); Nelson Mandela (a revolutionary visionary whose commitment and determination over the years led to the political emancipation of the South African black majority and African sin particular); and J.T Gumede (fourth president of the ANC, who understood the essence of South African National Liberation struggles earlier than most people did).

Do you think that Floyd's answers provide some insight into the ANCYL? Do you think constructive engagement is possible? Share your thoughts below…

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