ANC Youth League launches its national executive structure

A mass youth conference in Johannesburg formally launched the national structure of the ANC Youth League. Anton Lembede was elected president, Oliver Tambo secretary, Walter Sisulu treasurer and A.P. Mda organiser; Nelson Mandela and David Bopape joined as additional members. Building a national youth structure gave younger activists an organised platform to contest colonial paternalism and demand African-led political action.