The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, MP is attending the 45th Annual Rainbow Push Coalition in Chicago, USA.
Rainbow Push Coalition is a Non-Profit Organisation founded in 1996 under the leadership of the renowned civil rights leader and one of the key figures of the anti-apartheid movement, Reverend Jesse Jackson. Speaking at the session entitled Global Africa Investment Diaspora Forum, Minister called on the global community to do more to protect poor and vulnerable households, particular during these hard economic times.
"It is at times like these that we need to think of how do we protect the most vulnerable members of our society. In many countries, the tendency is to cut down on social expenditure at a time when we should be doing more to ensure an inclusive economic growth, Minister Dlamini said.
Minister Dlamini said the African continent must invest in young people to reap the demographic dividend that Africa is experiencing.
“A 2012 report by the UN shows that as population around the world are getting older, Africa has a youthful population with over 40 % of working age population between the ages of 15 and 24 years. The report estimates that there are over 200 million young people in Africa and this figure is expected to double by 2045. As a big part of the African population, young people are at the heart of the future of our continent's inclusive and sustainable economic growth", Minister Dlamini added.
Minister Dlamini will later today address the Push Excellence International Scholarship Banquet, an initiative which seeks to improve access to education for young people from disadvantaged communities across the globe.
Media enquiries:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
