*Young Communist League Free State* December 10th- 11th 2011
*2011 Jobs for Youth Summit Declaration* *1. **Introduction* We as the representatives of the young people in the Free State organised in different formations under the banner of the YCL, met in the Provincial Jobs for Youth Summit on the 10-11 December 2011 in Bloemfontein, Braam Fischer Building hereby declare: That despite differences in ideology, social and political preferences across the length and breadth of our province, young people are in agreement that the greatest threat to social and political stability and that of youth development is solely the rampant youth unemployment; That unless we work together tirelessly to promote individual and collective responsibility to provide solutions to problems facing our province, we will not achieve victory in fight against unemployment. And that the following are declarations from the robust discussions and informed presentations by the MEC’s in respective departments in the province, Tri-partite Alliance, Progressive Youth Alliance, South African Youth Council and its Affiliates, National Committee of the YCL and the Free State Premier. The summit makes declarations following full participation in all presentations made and commissions formed by the membership of YCL and the entire invited delegation. *2. **On synopsis of our Free State job opportunities and youth* Borrowing from the well informed presentation by the MEC of Department of Economic Development an analysis showed that the province historically was set up as a hub of mining and farming primary sector. Following the political and economic shifts in the early 90’s which resulted in redirection of investments from one sector to another – leaving mines in the province still mineable but requiring extensive and coordinated training of young people to bring minerals to the surface. A concentrated training and development in collaboration with Tertiary Institutions and relevant departments in the province is essential to unlock access and active participation in Agricultural sector by blacks and the young people in particular. *3. **On Education for formulation of long term vision* The commissions noted that; The summit declaration echoes the assertions of the MEC of Finance that our education prospectus should be such that tempers with historic patterns of both micro and macro economies in order to address the ownership and equality questions. An analysis was made by the summit that in a broad definition of unemployment - youth constitutes above 70% of the current rate of unemployment in the province. Also borrowing from the presentation, it is noted that the biggest attributors to this adverse state of affairs are inability of our economy to absorb new and contain existing workers and generally absence of skill and education. In redress, youth formations in the province should put together a long term vision in relation to strengths and opportunities existing in the province, synchronise and coordinate with both government and private sector and ensure sustainable jobs for youth in the long run. The Jobs for Youth Coalition will be expected coordinated the work of the SETA’s to be able to produce through their offered internships and learnerships, skilled and capable youth workforce for the absorption in the relevant industries. *4. **On Economic Transformation* The commission has noted that; · Inadequate transport infrastructure networks for both people and goods · The current global threat of ‘climate change’ and its impact to agriculture sector · Business opportunities around world heritage site “Vredefort Dome” and Xhariep Dam · Reviving mining and other industries that was collapsed by post 1994 Gear policy · Private sector contribution is very dawdling and disturbing The commission the resolved that · All transport networks be reactivated and be able to touch in all major economic hubs of the province · Contaminated land should be rehabilitated and water be purified · All sites that gives rise to hospitality sector be vitalised and used to their maximum potential · Re-introduction and vitalisation of indigenous goods and ways of doing things. · Government should play critical role in regulating and financing in the industry to ignite job creation. · Moves for promotion of the proudly South Africa products and services. · Training of small enterprises to be constant and focused to our communities *5. **On Agriculture and Agro-processing* The commission noted that: · A bottle neck in government attempt to redistribute farming land and where the land is provided, it is not used agriculturally. · Lack of skill in operating farming machinery and absence of such tools of operations. · The negative impact of introduction of technology in farming in relation to job creation · The impact of natural disasters, crime, and hygiene issues that serve as hiccups in farming industry. The commissions then resolved that: · Government should speed up the distribution of land to young people and women, install mentorship to owners in the process of constant education and skilling. · Farm workers should receive perpetual training in farming and also in running the farming business · Farming machinery should be rotated among registered cooperatives · Crop rotation should be done to repair the farming soil. · Consumer market for agricultural products should be identified and be maintained both local and abroad. *6. **On Building Cooperatives* The commission noted that: · It is necessary at inception to consolidate data in terms of number of existing cooperatives in the province and their sustainability. · The state or the legislation does not explicitly encourage the formation and safeguard the existence of cooperatives · Commission identified sectors in which the cooperatives can be economically viable such as in mining, agriculture, transport and communication. The commission resolved that: · The YCL, from this summit, should take stand to establish cooperatives as a pilot project in each of its entire five districts. · A sound working relationship should be developed with all relevant role players in aforementioned sectors of economy; the training and the monitoring by the education institutions and adequate funding from the government should as well be secured. · Interact and engage with the Cooperative Enterprise Development Division to achieve our success in training and building capacity and sustainability. 7. The first Young Communist League Provincial Jobs for Youth Summit in Free State hereby declares the Summit a great success. Issued by YCL Free State For information please contact: Life Mokone YCL Free State Provincial Secretary Cell: 082 529 3224 E-mail: [email protected] -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. 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