ADDRESS BY HE PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA, AT THE NATIONAL YOUTH CELEBRATIONS
AT THULAMAHASHE, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
16 JUNE 2010
Theme: Working together for youth development through action
Premier of Mpumalanga, David Mabuza and MECs present;
Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane,
Members of the Mpumalanga executive;
The Leadership of the youth present;
The CEO of NYDA, Andile Lungisa;
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is once more an honour to address you on this important day, which
marks the 34th anniversary of the 1976 youth protest.
Quite fittingly, with Bafana Bafana making us proud in their dazzling
opening encounter with Mexico last week, this is indeed a good day and
a wonderful period in our country; so good day to you all!
South Africans have displayed amazing patriotism and national pride,
and have received visitors warmly and hospitably. They have made us
proud as government.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup is so successful because of the support of our people.
After all, the struggle of the youth was in a large measure, all about
realizing these opportunities and possibilities.
I thank the youth who have volunteered in this tournament for various
kinds of activities geared towards the success of the event.
Esteemed guests;
In 2009, at its 65th Plenary Meeting, the UN General Assembly, through
Proclamation 64/134 of 2010, declared this year the International Year
of Youth, emphasizing Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.
This proclamation was borne out of the realization that the way the
challenges facing youth are addressed presently, have a great bearing
on them as they are the future.
Therefore governments in member countries are expected to intensify
sustainable programmes and strategies to develop the youth in their
countries as another crucial dimension towards realizing the
Millennium Development Goals.
Similarly, the World Development Report of 2007 challenges us to
develop and broaden opportunities for the youth, as well as to develop
their skills to optimize such opportunities.
It also expects of us to create an enabling environment for their self
affirmation and expression, so that they develop all aspects,
physical, intellectual as well as personal and social, to participate
meaningfully in the society as fully developed citizens.
In this country, June is the month of the youth. It is the month in
which the youth of this country changed the course of history in that
fateful protest against apartheid education on June 16, 1976.
Among its many political ramifications, the protest injected fresh
momentum to the struggle, both within and outside the country, as the
youth swelled the ranks of the exiled political activists outside
South Africa.
So quite befittingly, this month and this day belong to the youth of
this country across the wide range of political spectrum.
It is the month in which our youth put down an ineradicable stamp in
the history of this country, braving all odds to fight for equal
education for all.
And in the same spirit, the gains that have been made through
democracy should therefore accrue to them all.
This event is about all the youth of South Africa, regardless of race
and class and no one should feel discriminated, neither should there
be anyone who undermines our collective efforts to improve the youth
of this country.
It is important also, to evoke this poignant reminder that today in
our struggle calendar as Africans, marks the 50th anniversary of what
is known as the Mueda Massacre in north eastern Mozambique, then also
known as Portuguese East Africa.
It was during this day that more than 600 Mozambicans were killed at
the Mueda town square during a demonstration, demanding independence
from Portugal.
This ugly turn of events subsequently fuelled momentum to the
Mozambican War of Independence, led by the FRELIMO, which stretched
from 1964 to 1975.
Therefore this day has strong regional resonance as well, and we have
to understand that these indelible scars are borne by our neighbors as
well.
Ladies and gentlemen;
We said that this is the year of the youth, and therefore it is proper
as a country to mark the progress which we have registered in their
issues.
This, in my humble view, is a fitting tribute to the youth of 1976, to
indicate that despite our various challenges, we are making an
incremental impact on issues that affect them.
It is important to us as government to ensure that the youth reap the
benefits of democracy as well as all constitutional rights as citizens
of this country.
We have to continue to work hard to create opportunities where they
can realise their dreams and aspirations.
On this note, I wish to remind all of you gathered here that we
launched the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) last year to
integrate our youth to participate in the economy and all aspects of
the society, including government.
This agency was among others tasked with the development of the
National Youth Policy of 2009-2014, which culminated among others into
the Integrated Youth Development and Strategy.
This strategy aims to integrate the youth of this country within
government and other spheres outside government.
Today the National Youth Development Agency commemorates its first
anniversary. The Youth Month programme was unveiled at the beginning
of this month, to show how the government interacts with the youth in
bringing services closer to them this month and beyond.
It is important therefore to reflect on progress registered in
advancing the development of the youth in this country.
Most notably the NYDA has adopted eight Key Performance Areas (KPAs)
in order to map and monitor the development of the youth over time.
These include:
* Economic Participation,
* Education and Skills Development
* Effective and Efficient Resource Management
* Information Services and Communications
* National Youth Service
* Policy, Lobby and Advocacy
* Research
* Monitoring and Evaluation and Social Cohesion.
Regarding economic participation, more than 30 000 jobs were created
for young people through the intervention of the NYDA.
In addition, more than 4000 business support vouchers were issued to
young entrepreneurs; to allow them access to key business development
support services such as business plan development and tendering
support
The NYDA has also helped improve access of the youth to funds. About
7000 loans, amounting to 23 million rand were disbursed to
microfinance enterprises.
More than three million rand was also given out to the Small and
Medium Enterprises.
Significant strides have also been made in advancing education and
skills development. About 40 000 beneficiaries were enrolled in skills
development and community service for the current financial year.
The National Youth Service programme has enrolled 16,000 young people
in several projects.
Most recently, in the 2010-2011 financial year, young volunteers built
76 houses, symbolising the year 1976, for indigent families in Ivory
Park, Gauteng as part of the Youth Month celebrations.
They are also planning to build 34 houses, symbolising 34 years since
1976 in Mpumalanga and refurbish selected schools in all nine
provinces during Youth Month.
These projects are continually monitored and evaluated to ensure their
effectiveness.
Access to information and to the NYDA by the youth is also essential
and it is commendable that more than 150 000 youth were provided with
information on products and services through the NYDA branches.
The NYDA therefore should move quickly to establish branches in all
parts of the country to increase access to its services. I am glad
that this has had a positive reception as well, with one office
recently opened in rural Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape.
Also, the NYDA’s plan to establish Provincial Advisory Boards and
structures in all the provinces will improve its services.
Much more heartening is their bias towards young women and the
disabled in their projects.
I also commend the NYDA for giving brand new bicycles to 100
disadvantaged learners in KwaZulu-Natal, through the “Ride to School
Bicycle Project.”
Through the NYDA advocacy, an Inter-Departmental Committee on Youth
Affairs adopted the guidelines on the establishment of Youth
Directorates in government departments.
Some departments have already begun filling the positions related to
the affairs of the youth. A presentation has also been made to the
National Council of Provinces (NCOP) programme on needs of young
people.
We are impressed by the plans of the NYDA going forward, with regards
to fighting poverty through broadening economic participation.
The agency plans to make interventions to create more than 17 000 new
jobs and support about 15 000 young entrepreneurs, as well as procure
more than 11 million rand worth of loans for these young emerging
business people.
Skills development is also one government’s key priorities and it is
heartening to see that the youth have come fully on board in this
regard as well.
They plan to facilitate enrolment of more than 55 000 youth in
different skills development opportunities, a further 2000 of them to
upgrade their matric results, and make interventions to provide career
guidance to 800 000 of them.
In addition, the NYDA plans to engage 50 000 young people in the
National Youth Service Programme, and help establish at least 86
cooperatives in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Free
State.
It is also commendable that the NYDA is also set to continue promoting
the culture of volunteerism that has been so integral not only to the
fight for democracy in this country, but to its consolidation as well.
Through its continual research, monitoring and evaluation, the NYDA
should be able to make proper situational analysis in order to
influence policies that will improve the lives of young people.
I also hope that they will live up to the bold customer satisfaction
targets that they have set and that they will continue to broaden the
reach of their constituency.
Ladies and gentlemen;
We must not forget the commanding significance of June 16 1976 to the
liberation of this country. Neither should we forget the role that the
youth played in the history, and which they still need to play in the
future of this country.
It is therefore very much distressing to see people still burning
schools and other facilities, as they did recently in Ganyesa in the
North West Province.
It is still baffling as to why someone would torch down a clinic
because they do not have a school or destroy a library because the
water taps have run dry.
Let us understand that it is much easier to destroy than to build, and
that every facility is an investment for future generations.
I appeal to our youth to be vigilant against these criminal elements.
Lastly, esteemed youth of our country;
It is important to continue to rally behind the activities of the
youth, and for the NYDA to reach all the sections of the youth
population everywhere in this country.
Thank you for the support that you have been giving to the World Cup
tournament, and please continue to cheer up our national team, Bafana
Bafana.
Tonight they take on Uruguay. You are the 12th man on the pitch as
South Africans. Our resounding support keeps the team going and makes
them succeed.
I wish all youth all of the best as you chart the future forward.
I thank you!
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