Programme Director
Officials from the Department of Dardla
Leadership of the Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development
Young people present here
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning.
This activity is taking place when the eyes of the country are all focusing on the Policy Conference of the African National Congress (ANC), which is the governing party in this country. Indeed those representatives of various communities attending the conference will debate issues that have the impact on our lives.
The conference will come up with policy proposals that will shape and change the manner in which we are doing things. Amongst those issues that the conference will look into is the creation of jobs for young people, skills development for our young people and economic development of the country so that it is able to absorb a large contingent of unemployed young persons, which is estimated to be above 35% in the country. We are optimistic that the decisions or proposals that will emerge will lift our country to greater heights.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me also remind you of the fact that I was once a young person, the only difference is that I was part of a powerful youth that could stand up against anything that they were opposed to. That was a youth that would not sit under trees and street corners wasting time talking about stuff that would not take them anywhere.
I am talking here about young people who, even though we had no Bill of Rights and freedom to do as we please, but we managed to stand tall and never hesitated to criticise what we believed to be a system at the time, that was there to undermine the principles and values that our society stood for. A system that was despised by the whole world and declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations.
Indeed life was tough those days; I am sure you heard about those stories and I cannot go on and on reminding you about them. However, I am happy to say the youth of 1976 went through the hardship, to help you the youth of today, so that you enjoy the fruits and benefits of their suffering and the hardship that they went through. They were doing it for you.
But all of this brings about the following questions in my mind:
- What is it that you are giving back to honour the sacrifices made by the youth of 1976?
- Do you think the souls of those heroes and heroines are resting in peace if they look at what you as the youth of today are doing?
- Why is it difficult for you to take advantage of all the opportunities that are there for you?
- Who said the best way to get what we want, as young people, is through complaining, protests and violence?
- Why can’t we come up with ideas and possible solutions to whatever problems that come our way?
As you try to come up with answers to these questions, let me tell you that government is encouraging you to have your eyes opened, for you to see the opportunities that are there for you. All South Africans, both black and white, went to the polls together for the very first democratic elections in 1994; elections that ushered hope and a brighter future not for those that voted in those elections, but for other generations to come, including you.
The month of June is one important month in our calendar as government. Hence June had been declared as a Youth Month. This means that as government, we make time to reach out to people like you, the youth, to listen to issues that you may be having especially those issues that will help benefit you and your community.
Not only that, we also reach out to merely come and listen to what you think can best help you and your community improve and develop. The time for complaints and moaning must come to an end. Let us get up, move from our comfort zones, and do something about our lives. The National Youth Development Agency is here; you have every right to engage them and they will advice you accordingly. They are actually here to hear you speak to them.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are also aware of the challenges facing the youth in rural areas. That is why we have the Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development, or YARD, which is there to specifically address the situation facing young people in rural areas in respect of services and creation of opportunities as well as employment. In line with our theme for youth month this year: “Youth Uniting for Economic Freedom”, I would like to encourage the youth today to change the way they do things; you should start something and be something of your own. Be your own boss and run your own successful company. Time has come for us to stop worrying about unemployed youth and so on. Instead, time has come for our youth to take advantage of all the available opportunities.
Next time, I will personally be interested in coming here, to sit amongst the local youth and listen to you discussing and debating issues that are aimed at getting a clear direction as to how you plan to be part of the mainstream economy; how you would like to contribute in the fight against crime in your area; how you can come together to form cooperatives; and discuss issues about youth unemployment and skills development. In that way, you will be triggering government’s response to zoom into what you have planned as a youth in this area, and help you through all the technical advices required, and give you all the necessary support; identify your training needs; and organise workshops aimed at empowering you.
Let me borrow from the words of one young researcher and writer from Cape Town Vuyo Yekani when he said about the crime that you young people are committing: “It is yet another harsh reality that there is to a greater extent an infestation of our society with crass materialism, afflicting many young people. Young people have elevated material riches; being flashy cars, glossy attires and classy alcoholic beverages to being barometers through which the success of any young person is measured. This has led to a creation of a generation of rich youth leaders who are devoid of critical thinking and intellectual proficiencies.
This statement by this young man cannot be overemphasised, as young people we should be able to account for our accumulation of wealth through knowledge that is acquired through education and acquisition of skills that is relevant to advance us in life. Agriculture is one those skills, as a rural province and booming in agriculture we dare not fail.
The youth of today cannot be seen as bringing about the demise of youth driven change that was started by the youth of the yester-years, instead you should be agents of change rather than being mere beneficiaries waiting for others to spearhead initiatives for your own benefit and preoccupied with the dependency syndrome. I am convinced that as you sit down and ponder after this work, you will realise that there is so much to be done and you will fold your sleeves and say “phezu’ komkhono” and begin working hard for your people and the country.
Allow me to say This Youth Month will be what it becomes because of what we will have made it to be”. It should not be a month of only commemoration and celebrations, but must be a month of great work by young people in developing and advancing their communities. We cannot continue to celebrate when many of our people are still faced with poverty, unemployment and inequality. Let us come together as people and ensure that we form Cooperatives that will benefit us all. We must not allow “umona” to take over our Africanness/ ubuntu. Ngesintu thina abansundu asinawo umona, thina siya nakekelana futhi asilahlani.
Ladies and gentlemen even though we are nearing the end of this month, this should not mean that we will have to wait until June 2013 to start entertaining issues involving the youth. In actual fact youth issues must be prioritised throughout the year. Let us demonstrate our understanding of the task at hand, mindful of the fact that our effort towards nation-building and social cohesion should be the real driver to changing the lives of our masses, especially our leaders of tomorrow...the youth.
We must not always ensure that as we drive this ship of governance we do so with you, so that you learn the ropes of steering the ship, because very soon you will be captains of this big vessel. History will not spare us should we abandon you and not ensure that the beneficiaries of our democratic government are the young people, since I have indicated that they will soon be captains of this vessel.
I thank you.
