Tribute by Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla at the launch of Youth Month
Nelspruit, 30 May 2006
Programme Director,
Chairperson of the Mpumalanga Youth Commission and your Colleagues,
The Mpumalanga Youth Council leadership,
Distinguished guests,
Comrades and fellow Compatriots,
Ladies and gentlemen
WE are gathered here today to mark the commencement of a series of activities to pay tribute to the heroic contribution of gallant young men and women to the building of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa, 30 years ago. This month also gives us the opportunity to take stock of our achievements in improving the lives of the youth constituency in the province as well as people in our country at large.
June 16, 1976 marked the turning point in the level of youth involvement in the struggle to liberate South Africa's oppressed black majority from the tyranny of Apartheid. When students in Soweto took to the streets in protest against a decree issued by the Department of Education declaring Afrikaans as a compulsory medium of instruction, police responded with teargas and live bullets.
Far from being cowed into submission, the young men and women of 1976 intensified their challenge against the inhumane and brutal system of apartheid.
From 1977, June 16 was commemorated countrywide and by the civilised world the world over. In our country the day was always marked through defiance of the wishes of the apartheid regime. Some commemoration services where brutally broken up, people tear-gassed and sjambokked, while others were killed or thrown in jail. But all that changed in 1994 when the new democratic government took over. June 16 was proclaimed as YOUTH DAY in recognition of the sterling role played by young people in the liberation struggle. And the month of June was declared “Youth Development Month”.
This year, the 30 th anniversary of June is commemorated alongside a number of important historic milestones born of struggle, during our long journey towards the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, united and prosperous South Africa. These include:
• the Centenary of the Bambata Rebellion;
• the 60th anniversary of the African Mine Workers' Strike of 1946;
• the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Women's March on Pretoria;
• the 50th anniversary of the formal adoption by the ANC of the Freedom Charter;
• the 25th anniversary of the assassination of Joe Gqabi by agents of the apartheid regime in Zimbabwe in 1981;
• the 25th anniversary of the Matola Massacre of South African freedom fighters and Mozambican nationals, on January 30th, 1981, during which the apartheid forces invaded Mozambique and attacked unarmed cadres of the ANC and MK, killing 16 of them and a Portuguese passer-by;
• the 20th anniversary on October 19th, 1986, of the death of President Samora Machel and 24 others in a still mysterious plane crash at Mbuzini in Mpumalanga; and,
• the 10th anniversary of the adoption by an elected Constitutional Assembly of our National Constitution.
The month of June, and indeed all the historic days we mentioned above, provides us with an opportunity for the nation to unite and draw inspiration from the heroism and patriotism in struggle of the authors of these deeds for the reconstruction and development of South Africa. To the nation it offers an opportunity to take stock of progress made in the development of young people since the dawn of democracy in 1994. When we meet again in 16days, we will be giving thanks to all young people of South Africa for the contribution they made in the freeing of South Africa from the shackles of white minority domination and apartheid.
This year's theme: “Age of Hope: Deepening Youth Participation in Development” calls on all of us to do our bit in advancing the development of young people and how to tackle the challenges we will encounter as we create a better life for all our people. It talks about providing young men and women with opportunities for decent work and sustainable development in a vibrant people-centred province. We ought to make Mpumalanga a better place to live and work in by improving the material and cultural conditions of our communities. To do this we have to accelerate the growth of our economy, save our social security and protect the people of this province, especially the youth, while fostering compassion and understanding.
But all this has to be done in partnership with the youth and all those who are eager to lend a hand to youth development. Youth development must enable young men and women to become active participants in activities that fulfil their potential and make it possible for them to fully participate in all aspects of society. This clearly means that youth development needs to be holistic and integrated, recognising the different social, community, economic and psychological needs of young men and women.
It must be development that recognises the unique value of young people's participation in society and must seek to empower and enhance young people's participation in society. This development must not assume knowledge about the needs of youth but youth policy should rather be youth centred and responsive to the specific needs of each generation of youth.
Comrades, we are confident that, more than ever before, the youth of today are better placed to advance their own aspirations and dreams. We are confident that this current generation of young people will inculcate the values that will make all of us to stand tall and proud among the peoples of the world.
On the shoulders of today's youth rests the obligation to bring to reality the non-racial, non-sexist, peaceful and prosperous society for which the youth of 1976 sacrificed their lives. That goal can only be achieved as we continue today to put in place the foundation and building blocks that will take us to our destination characterised by the provision of a better life for all.
This milestone event creates a platform for young people to further redefine the content and form of their struggle waged 30 years ago, into partnership for the struggle against poverty and under-development in South Africa. We are confident that, more than ever before, the youth of today are better placed to advance their aspirations and dreams. We are confident that this current generation of young people will inculcate the values that will make all of us to stand tall and proud among the peoples of the world. Do not ask what your country can do for you, but rather ask what you can do for your country.
The youth movement stood at the forefront of political engagement at the time of the struggle against apartheid. Indeed young people are capable of changing the province and assist in improving the lives of the people in their communities if given the opportunity, the skills they need, and the encouragement. Youth month offers the young men and women of this province a chance to lend a hand in the prevention of drug abuse through building awareness about the dangers of drugs and promoting healthy lifestyles working in partnership with various stakeholders.
They should also use this time to ensure that they forge partnerships with various stakeholders to develop a comprehensive youth strategy for social development sectors and take part in volunteer programmes to assist the most vulnerable sectors.
Already there are many who give of their time, talent, and treasure for the upliftment of their communities. Most of us know about the benefits of developing young people's leadership skills and building the lifelong habit amongst them of civic engagement. We must continue to encourage the youth to give their time, talent and treasure to causes they care about. To give their time to causes which are for the common good.
Active involvement in helping people in need changes people's hearts, so I'd recommend a service project that addresses pressing needs in the community. These needs are fairly easily identified. We believe that young people will also utilise this month to talk about social matters such as crime, education, relationships, alcohol, smoking and drugs. They should talk about their experiences of health and illness - all aspects of life, from being diagnosed with life-threatening illness such as cancer or diabetes to their views on sexual health. True, shared stories amongst peers feed the mind with information and the heart with hope and strength. Nature and medical science together can do a great deal to help our bodies and minds heal themselves, but the real experiences of others who have been through the same troubles give us the nourishment that sustains us in the meantime.
The primary aim of youth development must be the creation of conditions for young people to reach the height of their potential. Even when such conditions are perfect it is for the youth themselves to take advantage of such conditions through self-development. In order to produce a complete individual self-development must cover various areas such as problem solving ability, leadership, entrepreneurship and others.
Education is the most obvious area of improving oneself to be ready for the challenges of adulthood and participation in the economy. A lot of educated youth however still remain unemployed because the economy wants two things from them, among others. Firstly, the economy wants relevant education. In other words, when deciding what career path to follow, it is essential to seek relevant information and guidance about areas of highest demand and future growth. It is common knowledge that mathematics and science education makes it a lot easier to develop various useful careers.
Secondly, the economy wants skill, which is different from education in that it is practical experience in the application of theoretical knowledge. Skill unfortunately can only be acquired on the job. It is here that individual youth must take advantage of any opportunity to acquire practical on the job experience. It does not have to be through a learnership. Even opportunities to work on a voluntary basis and get a mentor will elevate your skill to higher levels.
Whether one intends to be self-employed as an entrepreneur or to be employed in a public or private institution technical, managerial and other life skills are essential. It is for this reason that initiatives by Umsobomvu Youth Fund such as career counselling, youth cooperatives, graduate development and entrepreneurship education and business funding are most welcome and must be taken full advantage of. It is incumbent upon the youth and their leaders to spread information about the services that Umsobomvu provides for the empowerment of youth. It is essential to note here that one of the key areas of youth empowerment, which Umsobomvu strives to address is access to information that will match both employment and business opportunities with individual youth. Lack of information can be very disempowering and render what could have been an easy effort very difficult.
To the extent that youth is a time of exploration and discovery, young people should not simply view themselves as passive recipients of education and jobs and sometimes as victims of the absence thereof. Our country, being a place of increasing possibilities, also offers youth the opportunity to redefine their role in society by becoming agents of change through ‘Tireko Setšhaba'.
Part of the process of redefining your role as youth from being victims of unemployment and lack of opportunities is to go out there and serve communities you live in without necessarily expecting anything in return. Such experience inculcates in young people qualities that moulds them to be better employees, businesspeople and leaders.
Programme Director, situating youth development at the centre of our national development programme will always remain critical for this government. We therefore pledge to accelerate economic growth and development, including black economic empowerment, expanding access to social grants, engage the health challenges facing our people, and fight crime and corruption.
We will continue to expand and improve service delivery through, among others, intensifying the Batho Pele campaign and recruiting community development workers, and continuing to advance women's participation, youth development and the empowerment of people with disabilities. The implementation of these tasks requires that the youth, themselves, play a role in the national offensive against poverty.
Comrades, the total freedom of the youth of our country cannot be achieved until all the children of Africa are free from poverty and underdevelopment. That is why it is important for the youth of this province to establish contact and exchange ideas with the youth of this region. Contact between the South African and other youth of the continent is vital so as to participate in the process of African integration and development, as represented by the African Union and its development programme, NEPAD. They must ensure that youth development is fully incorporated into NEPAD.
The total freedom of the youth of our country cannot be achieved until all the children of Africa are free from poverty and underdevelopment. South African youth must continue with the process they initiated during the African Youth Dialogue held in the year 2002, of ensuring that youth development is fully incorporated into NEPAD.
Young people must be part of the work for the regeneration of Africa and South African youth must work with other young people on the continent to achieve this objective.
With our continued resolve to better the lives of youth in our country, especially the previously disadvantaged youth, we are certain that our country is going to change radically and irreversibly for the better.
Enquiries:
Mr Ntime Skhosana
Premier's Spokesperson
Officer of the Premier
Tel: +27 13-766 2055
Cell: 084 6730 415
E-mail: Ntime@prem.mpu.gov.za