The Young Communist League (YCLSA) is officially formed

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The Young Communist League (YCLSA) is officially formed

The plans for the formation of the Young Communist League (YCL) were laid in 1921 when the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) was established. Youth groups were formed in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In 1922, the YCL played a supportive role during the great white mineworkers’ strike when 25,000 white miners downed tools because the Chamber of Mines proposed to dismiss about 2000 of them. In May that year they established a national structure, the YCL. One of the leaders of the YCL was Edward Roux, Sarah Sable and Willie Kalk. In 1924, Kalk helped to promote communism to Africans, but Sable was opposed to the idea. Subsequently, at the first Annual Conference of the YCL, held early 1924, a heated debate on the subject saw the “pro-Natives” faction over powered.

How we know this

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, May 21). The Young Communist League (YCLSA) is officially formed. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095709

South African History Online (2013) 'The Young Communist League (YCLSA) is officially formed', South African History Online, 21 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095709 (Accessed: 11 November 2026).

South African History Online, The Young Communist League (YCLSA) is officially formed [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095709, (accessed 11 November 2026).

"The Young Communist League (YCLSA) is officially formed." South African History Online, 21 May 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095709. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Young Communist League (YCLSA) is officially formed." South African History Online. May 21, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095709.