Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania
| Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairperson | Linda Ndebele |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Mother party | Pan Africanist Congress of Azania |
| Magazine | Mayihlome News |
| Website | |
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.
Its achievements include the formation of National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU), formation of Pan Africanist Student Organisation (PASO) and Pan-Africanist Student Movement of Azania (PASMA). PAYCO organization was critical in recruiting soldiers for the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) and for the PAC to reestablish itself as a major political party in Azania.
The PAC's opposition to the Freedom Charter created conflict with the African National Congress (ANC), which was a significant member of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Members of the UDF who supported the Charter, called charterists, killed many of their opposers by "necklacing" them, or burning them with gasoline-filled tires placed around their necks. The PAYCO was opposed to this treatment, further endangering themselves.
After the PAC's demise in 1986 following the death of Potlako Leballo, the PAYCO later played a role in resurrecting the PAC as the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania under the leadership of Zephania Mothopeng.
