By Deputy Minister Buti Manamela
It was renowned philosopher and revolutionary Frantz Fanon who famously said: “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it”. The youth of 1976 was one such generation who became history makers and had a profoundly change on the socio-political landscape of our country.
Today marks 40 years since the historic events unfolded on the streets of Soweto when thousands of young people peacefully marched in protest against the directives of the unjust apartheid system.
Their actions exposed the ruthlessness of the apartheid police who indiscriminately opened fire and killed hundreds of students. These images laid bare the atrocities of apartheid and focused the attention of the international community.
The 1976 Youth Soweto Uprising became a symbol of the struggle for freedom that eventually led to the downfall of apartheid. The struggle of the youth against overwhelming odds will forever live on in our national consciousness.
The profound words by Fanon that aptly described the Class of 1976 are still relevant for young people today who face different challenges in the form of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
It inspires our youth to a call to action and purpose that will see them move South Africa forward. This time around they have a government that cares and wants to see them succeed.
The government has prioritised the advancement of young people, particularly their participation in the economy, so that they can take their rightful place in our society.
We have introduced initiatives such as the Social Accord on Youth Employment which commits government, business and labour to bring a large number of young people into employment.
In implementing the accord government is increasing the number of young people employed in the public sector through its various youth training programmes.
For example, youth in rural areas are already being skilled through the government’s flagship rural programme the National Rural Youth Service Corps.
The successful Expanded Public Works Programme also provides training opportunities and short-term employment for young people.
However, the employment of young people cannot be left to government alone. The private sector must assist in training and developing our youth through internships or artisanship.
To encourage the employment of more young people, the government has introduced the Employment Tax Incentive where the cost of employing a young person is shared by the employer and the government.
Moreover, we are matching the skills of young people to those demanded by the labour market through our Technical and Vocational Education Training colleges. Youth are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to educate and re-skill themselves
It also offers marginalised youth and those who have fallen out of the educational system an opportunity to become active participants in the economy.
There is ample room for young people with an aptitude for business to grab the many entrepreneurial opportunities that are available and start their own businesses.
The government has made a massive push to develop small businesses and to encourage greater levels of entrepreneurship among young people.
A small business will not only generate an income, but it empowers communities and supports the economy. It draws new entrants into the economy, strengthens inclusive growth, builds the social economy and create large numbers of jobs.
We are providing the necessary support to youth who want to build a career as an entrepreneur. The Industrial Development Corporation in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency have set aside R 2,7 billion over the next five years for young people to take up opportunities in business.
Through the NYDA, the government has supported more than 1000 micro and small youth owned enterprises and provided non-financial business development support to 62 990 young aspiring and established entrepreneurs.
Youth-owned enterprises that create jobs can also receive concessional funding through a R1 billion Youth Fund of the Industrial Development Corporation.
We are investing in young people because they are central to the country’s development. The National Development Plan, which is the country's strategic vision for the next 20 years, singles our youth in the advancement of the country.
It highlights that South Africa’s youthful population presents an opportunity to boost economic growth, increase employment and reduce poverty.
In every generation, young people have an important role to play in defining the country and the world they want to live in. It is up to them to find their mission, rally together and fulfil it and bring about the change they want. It is not only a change for themselves and their peers but for also for generations to come.
Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Youth Development and Administration
