Remarks by President Jacob Zuma at the Presidential Siyahlola visit to Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Soshanguve, Pretoria
Honourable Deputy Ministers,
MECs,
Mayor of Tshwane Municipality,
Executive Mayor of Tshwane Municipality, Kgosientso Ramokgopa,
The Chairperson of the TUT Council Dr Bandile Masuku, Vice-Chancellor and all leadership of the university,
TUT Students
Community of Soshanguve.
Good afternoon to you all.
I am happy to join you today, as we celebrate youth month.
This month we are celebrating the contribution of young people to the freedom and democracy we enjoy today.
We remember the heroism of our youth who sacrificed their lives and comfort so that South Africa could be free, on June 16, 1976 and other periods.
We are also celebrating the achievements of South African youth in various fields.
That is what brings us to Soshanguve today. We had received a few complaints a few months ago from students.
They included the following:
1. The dilapidated state of bathrooms in the female residences which did not provide dignity and privacy.
2. Some TUT students had no accommodation and lived at a disused primary school, Thandulwazi, which is also used as a skills development centre, the Botho Socio-Psychology Empowerment Centre. This posed security risks for the students especially women. It also meant that the students had to sleep in unused classrooms which were not designed to become sleeping quarters and had no suitable amenities.
3. Complaints were raised about disturbances caused by three shebeens which operate at the entrance of the campus.
4. Security on campus following the death of one student last year.
These issues have also been attended too. The bathrooms at the female residences have been refurbished. However, the condition in some of the male residences requires attention including the need to fix lifts.
The critical shortage of accommodation is being addressed. The Department of Higher Education has relocated the students who were "squatting'' at Botho Centre to a university residence. I have also been informed that there are 70 other students who regrettably live in shacks at Bethesda church nearby.
The Departments of Social Development and Higher Education are looking into their plight. The fact that students choose to become destitute rather than go back home if they have no accommodation on campus demonstrates how seriously they take education as a weapon that will take them out of poverty.
We urge the community to also contribute by providing accommodation to the destitute students. Many are willing to pay rent if they find suitable accommodation. We are happy that they want to study, let us join hands and assist them.
There are other interventions from government to contribute to youth support and development. The Department of Labour has begun to register unemployed youth into its database and will provide job placement assistance through Employment Services Practitioners.
In addition, the department will explore organising interactive sessions for the work seekers with Career counsellors who will provide advice on basic skills such as preparing CVs and preparing for interviews.
The South African Police Service, through Deputy Minister Sotyu, has initiated an internship programme that will cater for an initial 15 students who are studying policing.
The Department of Sports and Recreation has erected a multi-purpose centre at Reitumetse High School which is 5km from the TUT North Campus. The facility was constructed at a budget of about R1 million and includes Tennis, Netball, Volleyball, Basketball courts and a soccer pitch, to help young people to be more active and to practice their sporting skills.
Community Colleges
Government is developing Community Colleges in order to help young people who could not complete their matric. We want to give our youth second chances so that they access further training.
We are happy to announce assistance to the Botho Socio-Psychology Empowerment Centre which plays such a role. The centre provides training in welding, agriculture, computer skills to mention a few.
The Department of Public Works concluded a lease agreement for Botho centre on 11 March 2015. The lease is for a period of 9 years 11 months. In addition, the Department of Infrastructure Development in Gauteng is renovating Thulasizwe Primary School where Botho is operating.
The renovations include painting, fixing of broken windows, doors and ceilings at a cost of approximately R3.5 million.
In further support to the college, the Department of Energy, in conjunction with the City of Tshwane, will attend to the internal wiring of the school and install pre-paid electricity metres at a cost of three hundred thousand rand.
The Department of Higher Education and Training will finalise the accreditation process for Botho once the renovations at Thulasizwe are completed. The City of Tshwane, together with the department of Water and Sanitation, will assist with regards to water supply.
The location of the taverns opposite the university is cause for serious concern and that matter is being attended to by the Gauteng provincial government.
I have been informed that one tavern was found to be lawfully licensed. The owner has given an undertaking to close earlier than before in light of the location of his tavern.
Another tavern has been shut down while another owner is making presentations at the Gauteng Liquor board.
Drugs and substance abuse destroy our youth and we do not take kindly to people who deliberately seek to destroy the future of our youth.
Allow me programme director, to touch on a matter of concern, the nature of protests on this campus, which tend to be violent. Students are reported to have burned 18 cars during the past protest, to make one example.
I urge students to use peaceful means of exercising their democratic right to protest and raise issues. Remember that as young people you are leaders of the future. You should lead by example and not use violence to solve problems.
Police are still investigating the killing of a student on campus last year. We urge those with information to come forward and assist to solve this case.
We are happy that peace and order have returned to campus this year.
We urge students to live together in peace and harmony. As said we are here because we believe in the youth of our country, we want the best for them. We urge the community to work with government to promote a better life for the youth.
I launched the Presidential Youth Working Group on 9 June which will assist us to obtain the views of young people and to work with them in building a better future for the youth in our country.
We have also launched a National Youth Policy 2020 designed to drive government youth development programmes. There are many opportunities for young people, they need to know about them and use them.
For example, at the June 16 commemoration we reminded young people that in the absence of jobs, young people should take up opportunities as entrepreneurs.
Government has for example made R2.7 billion available through the Industrial Development Corporation and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency to finance the growth of youth enterprises.
We urge youth in Soshanguve to use this opportunity. We also urge the youth to use the opportunities provided by the second chance programmes for passing matric for those who were unsuccessful in previous years.
Our message to our youth is that you should never give up. Those who did not pass matric must go to community colleges and adult basic education centres. Let us use all opportunities to obtain skills and build better lives.
Those here at TUT, study and work hard and succeed. The economy of this country needs your skills and expertise. Your country needs you. On June 16, I introduced young people who are excelling in some fields.
We know that TUT will continue to produce many outstanding graduates who will make a success of their careers and their lives.
We stand ready to support youth here at TUT, Soshanguve and everywhere else.
I thank you!
