Keynote address by the Honourable Premier R.M. Mtshweni-Tsipane on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of June 16

16 June 2022

Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council;
Members of the National and Provincial Legislatures present;
The Executive Mayor of Nkangala District Municipality, and other representatives of local government in our province;
The Chairperson of the African National Congress in Mpumalanga, Cde Mandla Ndlovu;
The Leadership of the ANC- led Alliance in our province with us today;
Senior government officials led by the Director-General of our province, Mr Makhukhu Mampuru;
Abarholi betja yenhlangano ebusako and other representatives of youth formations in our midst;
Leadership of broader civil society;
The community of Thembisile Hani,
Sanibonani;
Dumelang;
Lotjhani

1. Programme director, I wish to thank the organizers for inviting us to join you all on this 46th Anniversary of the bravery of the youth of June 1976.
   
   Mphathi wehlelo, ngithanda ukuthokoza abakhwezeli ngokusimema ukobana sizokuhlanganyela nani namhlanjesi nasigidinga iminyaka eyi-46 yesikhumbuzo sesibindi esatjengiswa lilutjha lango-June 1976.


2. We are indeed honoured to be part of this occasion that celebrates the heroic student and youth upheavals of June 16 1976 that added glorious chapters to the history of the anti-apartheid struggle.
   
   Kwamambala sizizwa sibakhulu ngokuba semnyanyeni lo ogidinga ubuqhawe babafundi nezehlakalo zelutjha zangomhla ka June 16, 1976 nokwangezelela izahluko eziqakathekileko emlandweni womzabalazo wokulwisana nebandlulo.


3. The June 1976 uprisings set the system of Bantu education on a route to destruction. Young people stood up and were firm despite the brute force of a racist regime hell bent on preserving the abominable status quo.
   
   Imiguru yango-June 1976 ngiyo eyahlahla indlela ukugiriza ifundo yebandlululo iBantu Education. Abantu abatjha basikima bajama nalokha baqalene namandla anesihlungu wombuso webandlululo owawusafuna ukuragela phambili ngombuso ongafunwako.


4. Today we commemorate and celebrate the bravery of the thousands of young people without whom this freedom and non-racial democracy that we enjoy today would be nothing but a pipe dream.
   
   Namhlanje sikhumbula begodu sigidinga isibindi seenkulungwana zabantu abatjha, ngaphandle kwabo ikululeko esiyithabelako le, nedemokhrasi enganabandlululo bezizokuba libhudango kwaphela.


5. I am glad to observe that the spirit of June 16th 1976 still lives among many of our youth today.
   
   Kuyangijabulisa ukubona ukuthi umoya welutjha lango-16 June 1976 lisese khona ebantwini abatjha abanengi banamhlanje.


6. It is clearly manifest in your participation in youth, student and community activities that contribute to our country’s struggles against the immense challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
   
   Kubonakala khulu ngokuzibandakanya kwenu eendabeni ezithinta ilutjha, abafundi nemiphakathi, lapha kulisizo khona ukuqalana neentjhijilo zokutlhogeka kwemisebenzi, umtlhago nokungalingani.


7. As his Excellency President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa reminded us when he commemorated this day last year; “The struggles of young people in South Africa today are many. Young people have remained at the forefront of activism, whether in pursuit of free education or against social ills like gender-based violence.”
   
   Njengombana uMhlonitjhwa uMengameli uCyril Matamela Ramaphosa wakhe wasikhumbuza nabekakhuluma kusikhumbuzo salo leli ilanga nyakenye... “Minengi imizabalazo abaqalene nayo abantu abatjha eSewula Afrika namhlanje. Bebasolo badosa phambili abantu abatjha ukutjhotjhozela, kungaba sekufuneni ifundo yasimahla namkha ezintweni ezihlalise kabuhlungu imiphakathi njengenturhu yang’khaya”

THE RELEVANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THEME OF THE EVENT


8. It is perhaps fitting that today we commemorate June 16th 1976 under the theme “promoting sustainable livelihood and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow”.
   
   Mhlamunye singathi kwenzeke kuhle sigidinge u16 June 1976 namhlanjesi ngesiqubulo esithi “Sithuthukisa ukuziphilisa kwasafuthi nokuzijamela kwabantu abatjha ukobana kube nengomuso elincono”


9. This theme recognizes that whilst the long night of Apartheid may be over, as we enjoy twenty-eight (28) years of a democratic constitutional dispensation, young people continue to face many challenges, particularly youth unemployment.
   
   Isiqubulo lesi sitjho ukuthi, nanyana udlulile umnyama webandlululo, njengombana sigidinga iminyaka eyi-28 yentando yenengi nombuso womthethosisekelo, abantu abatjha basaqalene neentjhijilo ezinengi. Khulu khulu zokutlhoga imisebenzi.


10. Sadly, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic on our shores in 2020, has worsened matters.
    
    Nokho, ukufika kwe-Covid 19 enarheni yekhethu ngo-2020, kwathuwelelisa izinto.


11. The respected Geneva-based International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that young people account for roughly 47% of the world’s unemployed. They are also 4x more likely to be unemployed than adults.
    
    i-International Labour Organization (ILO) yalaphana eGeneva ehlonitjhwa khulu, iveze bona abantu abatjha abangasebenziko ephasini balinganiselwa ku 47%, begodu ilinganise bona kungaba mahlandhla amane ngokubuyelelwa ukuthi baqatjhwe nakucathaniswa nokuqatjhwa kwabantu abadala.


12. In our province, the strict unemployment rate of youth of working age (between 15-34 years) was at 54.6% in quarter 1 of 2022.
    
    Esfundeni sethu, izinga labantu abatjha abangasebenziko abahlangana kweminyaka (eyi-15 neyi34) belijame ku54.6% ekoteni yokuthoma ka2022.


13. This figure is too high. It says that at least 1 in 2 youth in the labour force is without a job.
    
    Lesi isibalo siphezulu khulu. Sitjho bona munye kwababili abantu abatjha akasebenzi.


14. We worry also about the percentage of young persons aged 15–34 years who were not in employment, education or training ‘(also called the NEET’) who increased by 2,7 percentage points from 43,6% to 46,3% (out of 20,7 million) in Q1: 2022.
    
    Sitshwenyekile nangesibalo sabantu abatjha abahlangana kweminyaka (eyi15-neyi-34) abangasebenzi, abangafundi nofana ababandulwako (lokhu esikubiza ngeNEET) isibalo sabo esikhule nge2,7% ukusuka ku43,6% ukuya ku 46,3% phezu kwe 20,7 million ekoteni yokuthoma yomnyaka ka2022.


15. With the onset of COVID-19, the situation of young people in the labour market has deteriorated because their access to education, training and work-based learning was disrupted.
    
    Ngokufika kweCOVID-19, ubujamo babantu abatjha kwezemisebenzi kwarhagala ngombhana ukufunda, ukubandulwa namakgono bandulo kwathikamezeka.


16. Young people were in most cases the first to be fired or retrenched as businesses faced difficulties during the lockdown.
    
    Abantu abatjha kanengi bebazifumana kungibo abacothwa mantangi nofana baphelelwa msebenzi njengombhana amabhizinisi bekaqalene nobudisi ngesikhathi sokuqinteliswa kwamakhambo. (lockdown)


17. As their working conditions and access to the labour market became difficult we were sad to learn of many young people whose mental health and well-being was negatively affected.
    
    Njengombhana ubujamo bezemisebenzi nokuthola imisebenzi besele kub’disi, sitshwenyekile ukufunda bona inengi labantu abatjha lithintekile ngokomkhumbulo nepilweni.

OUR RESPONSE TO CHALLENGES FACING THE YOUTH IN OUR PROVINCE
(IPENDULO YETHU MALUNGANA NEENTJHIJILO EZIQALENE NELUTJHA ESFUNDENI LESI SETHU)


18. Programme Director, allow me to re-assure our young people and all present here today that ours is a caring, responsive provincial government.
    
    Mphathi wehlelo, ngivumela ngiqinisekise ilutjha lethu naboboke abakhona lapha namhlanje bona urhulumende wesifunda sethu uyatlogomela bewuyaphendula.


19. As a province we have not remained unmoved by these developments but have rolled up our sleeves with the aim of implementing economic and youth-centred policies and programmes.
    
    Sisifunda, akhange sisonge izandla nakwenzekako koke lokhu, sirorobhile ngehloso yokuphumelelisa ukusebenza kwemigomo esiza beyithuthukise abantu abatjha.


20. Indeed, our provincial government has continued to support youth development through a number of initiatives such as bursaries, youth incubation programmes, youth development centres, artisan development training, and youth empowerment programmes.
    
    Kwamambala urhulumende wesifunda sekhethu uragele phambili ngokusekela ituthuko yelutjha ngamahlelo amanengana anjengemifundaze, amahlelo wokuthwasisa abatjha, amasentha wetuthuko, ukuthuthukisa amakghono wezandla namahlelo abaphakamisako abantu abatjha.


21. However, these interventions are currently developed and implemented by a range of departments and stakeholders across sectors.
    
    Amahlelo lo ayathuthukiswa begodu enziwa minyango ehlukahlukeneko nababambisani eenkorweni zoke.


22. We are seized with ensuring that they achieve a better impact on our youth across the length and breadth of our province.
    
    Sihlose ukuqinisekisa ipumelelo ezokuba nomphumela omuhle ebantwini abatjha kiso soke isifunda sethu ngobukhulu baso.


23. One of the interventions is our partnership with the Provincial Youth Development Coordinating Forum (PYDCF). We remain guided by this structure through its efforts of monitoring the implementation of youth development programmes.
    
    Okhunye esikwenzako ukusiza, kubambisana ne Provincial Youth Development Coordinating Forum (PYDCF). Ngiyo ihlangano le esiyelelisako ngomsebenzi wayo wokulusa ukuphumelela kwamahlelo athuthukisa abantu abatjha.


24. Allow me to remind our people that this PYDCF is a multi-sector platform made up of the private sector, public sector and civil society stakeholders whose mandate is to deal with the overall youth development agenda in the province.
    
    Ngivumela ngikhumbuze abantu bekhethu ukuthi iPYDCF le iliziko elinemikhakha eminengi, elihlanganisa ikoro yombuso neyangeqadi nomphakathi ngehloso yokuphatha zoke iindaba zetuthuko yabantu abatjha esifundeni.


25. Programme Director, evidence from the experience of many countries and regions suggests that a faster growing competitive economy is the main solution for reducing unemployment, including youth unemployment.
    
    Mphathi wehlelo, ubufakazi obuphethwe ziinarha ezinengi neemphande buthi, umnotho okhula msinyana ngiyo ipengu ekulu yokuphungula umtlhago wemisebenzi, sekubalwa nokungasebenzi kwabantu abatjha.


26. As a province, much of our focus has been on crafting a Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (MERRP).
    
    Sisifunda siqale khulu ukwakha i-Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (MERRP)


27. I am pleased to announce that our province shall soon be reporting on progress with the implementation of the MERRP together with its social partners at a provincial Summit. Details will be available soon and we will ensure that all stakeholders are represented, including the Youth.
    
    Ngithabe khulu ukunazisa bonyana kungasikade, sizabe sinibikela ngetuthuko eyenziweko nge MERRP nababambisani bayo embizweni yesifunda. Imininingwana isazokulandela msinyazana, sizokwenza isiqiniseko sokuthi yoke imikhakha iyajanyelwa, sesibala nelutjha.


28. As part of the MERRP is a commitment to the Employment stimulus which will see the province provide many hundreds of working opportunities for young people through programmes such as the National Youth Service, Contractor Development programme, the paving of township and municipal roads, and the Social Enterprise Development Programme (SEDP).
    
    Hlangana neembopho zeMERRP kuvuselelwa kwemisebenzi okuzokuvulela abantu abanengi amathuba wemisebenzi sesibala nabantu abatjha ngamahlelo anjenge-National Youth Service, Contractor Development programme, ukufakwa kweendlela zemalokitjhini nakibomaspala i-paving nehlelo le- Social Enterprise Development Programme (SEDP).


29. Through the Employment Stimulus pillar of the MERRP we will further intensify public employment programmes, such as the EPWP, to create a large number of jobs in the shorter term and support increased procurement spend for women and youth.
    
    Ngehlelo lokuvuselela imisebenzi ngaphasi kwe MERRP siyokwandisa amahlelo wokuqatjhwa komphakathi anjenge-EPWP, ukwandisa imisebenzi ngesikhathi esincani nokwandisa isekelo kibomma nelutjha.


30. These are programmes that are already being rolled out and are budgeted for.
    
    La, mahlelo athomileko begodu sele abekelwe imali.


31. For example, by the beginning of 2022, the Siyatentela Roads Maintenance Programme had achieved 4 536 work opportunities for poor local households.
    
    Umzekelo, ekuthomeni konyaka ka2022, ihlelo lokukhwezelelwa kweendlela i-Siyatentela Roads Maintenance Programme) lenze amathuba wezemisebenzi ayi 4 536 emiphakathini etlhogako.


32. At the Summit and through other communication platforms the provincial government will provide ‘audited’ figures on its achievements with the MERRP to highlight progress and challenges it faces in addressing the challenge of youth unemployment.
    
    Embizweni nakamanye amahlelo wokuthintana, umbuso wesifunda uzokuveza iimbalobalo zokuthi uphumelele kangangani ngeMERRP ukuveza ituthuko ngeentjhijilo ezikhona ekulungiseni imiraro abaqalene nayo abantu abatjha.


33. The Mpumalanga Provincial Government is firmly committed to ensuring that young people are assisted to participate meaningfully in the provincial economy.
    
    Urhulumende wesifunda seMpumalanga uzibophelele ngokuzeleko ukuqinisekisa bonyana abantu abatjha bayasizeka ukuzibandakanya ngendlela enetlha emnothweni wesifunda.


34. Whilst aware of the challenging global economic outlook brought about by the pandemic, geo-political tensions and conflict in Europe, rising inflation and worsening socio-economic realities, we have not folded our arms.
    
    Siyazi ngeentjhijilo zephasi loke kezomnotho ngebanga lengogwana, izipi zombanganarha nepi eseYurophu, ukukhula kwentengo-tjhuguluko nobujamo obumbi obuthuwelelako bezomnotho, asikasongi izandla.


35. The provincial government will continue to support young people to access opportunities and benefit from our enterprise development efforts.
    
    Urhulumende wesifunda seMpumalanga uzokuragela phambili usekele abantu abatjha bona bafinyelele amathuba bebahlomule emizameni yethu yokuthuthukisa amarhwebo.


36. Our flagship intervention in this regard is the Mpumalanga Youth Development Fund (MYDF).
    
    Kilelihlangothi-ke, ihlelo lokungenelela. Siyokusiza nge-skhwama sokuthuthukisa ilutjha leMpumalanga-iMpumalanga Youth Development Fund (MYDF).


37. In the previous financial year, we succeeded in implementing the first year of the three-year piloting phase of the Youth Fund. R90 million was set aside for disbursement.
    
    Emnyakenimmali odlulileko, siphumelele ukuhloma umnyaka wokuthoma kileyo emithathu yokulungelela ukusekela ilutjha ngeemali. i-R90 million yabekelwa ngecadi ukuraga ihlelo leli.


38. In this financial year, a total budget of R60 million is set aside for the Youth Fund to cater for the successful applicants in this phase. A number of applications from all 17 local municipalities were received. We will double our efforts to finalize the adjudication process, and disburse the allocations to youth enterprises with a strong business case, in line with the set criteria.
    
    Kilo umnyakammali, ibudget yemali engange R60million ibekelwe ngecadi ezokusiza eskhwameni seemali selutjha, ukusiza abafake iimbawo kulesi isigaba. Zifunyenwe iimbawo ezivela kubomaspala bekhaya abayi-17. Sizoqinisa imizamo yethu ukuphetha ikambiso yokuhlunga, sabele ngemali amarhwebo welutjha abonakala anamahlelo athe tjha.


39. Programme Director, at a time when the global economic outlook is disappointing we need to look at home grown solutions in order to prosper.
    
    Mphathi wehlelo, ngesikhathi ubujamo bezomnotho ephasinapha bungasibuhle, kufanele bona siqale iinsombululo ezivela la ekhaya ukuze sikwazi ukuya phambili.


40. The recent figures on the performance of our economy and the labour market are encouraging. But we need to be deliberate in our interventions to address the plight of the marginalized youth and women in our country.
    
    Iimbalobalo zamva nje ngezomnotho nezemisebenzi enarheni le ziyakhuthaza, kodwana kufanele bona singenelele kilokhu silwisane nob’disi obuqalene nabantu abatjha nabomma enarheni le.


41. I wish to reassure the youth of our province that we have heard their cries and empathize with their plight.
    
    Ngithanda ukuqinisekisa ilutjha esfundeni sethu ukuthi sizwile iinlilo zabo begodu sizwelana nabo.


42. In all the provincial economic strategies and interventions proposed or implemented we ask ourselves on their implications for women and youth.
    
    Kiwowoke amahlelo wezomnotho wesfunda, neemphakamiso ezenziweko sizibuza ngemithelela enayo etjeni nebantwini bengubo.


43. This is because we have long realised that no country can prosper without taking care of its youth and ensuring that they have the capabilities to access opportunities.
    
    Lokho kungombhana sibonile bona akuna-narha engaragela phambili ingatlhogomeli itja yayo nokuqinisekisa bona inekghono lokufinyelela amathuba.


44. As we pay homage to the youth of June 16 1976 let us pay tribute to their selflessness and courage.
    
    Njengombhana sihlonipha itja yangoJune 16, 1976 Asithokoze ukuzinikela kwabo nokuqunga isibindi ababenakho.


45. In celebrating the spirit of the youth of 1976 the Mpumalanga provincial government pledges to invest in its youth and adopt strategies to harness their energies.
    
    Ukugidinga umoya wetja yango 1976, urhulumende wesfunda seMpumalanga uthembisa ukusiza ilutjha nokuba namahlelo azoksiza ilutjha ngokuba majadu kwabo.


46. In embracing the spirit of the youth of 1976 young people today can act as drivers of transformation, and join us in our quest to deliver a better life for all.
    
    Ukugidinga itja yangomnyaka ka1976 abantu abatjha akube batjhayeli betjhuguluko, bahlanganyele nathi ekwenzeni ipilo engcono.


47. I thank you
    
    Ngiyathokoza

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