Development Initiative, Ekhaya Guest House
15 November 2006
Introduction
This year, as we are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising
of 1976, it is important that we remember the significant role played by the
youth in our country's progression from apartheid to democracy.
President Thabo Mbeki declared this year as the "Age of Hope."
This era of hope that our president referrers to, has to be filtered down to
all sectors of society especially vulnerable groups such as women, children,
the disabled and in particular, our youth.
The Youth Skills Initiative programme that is being launched here today is
yet another stepping stone in making the "Age of Hope" a reality for the youth
of the Northern Cape Province.
The Problem Statement
According to the results of the 2001 Census, youth form a significant
percentage of the South African population i.e. of the 44,5 million people in
South Africa, youth between the ages 14 and 35 forms 40,5% of the population.
Therefore youth issues are an important government priority.
Since the dawn of democracy within South Africa, many developmental
opportunities have been created for young people. However the number of
unemployed youth in the province is still high � figures of unemployed youth in
the 16 to 35 age cohort stands at 71 557 in the Northern Cape (Stats SA).
This situation is exacerbated by high poverty levels amongst our
communities. The development of our youth therefore remains an important
challenge within the Northern Cape Province in specific but also the country in
general.
Government's Policy and Programmes
South Africa supports various international instruments as a guide for youth
development. These include the Millennium Declaration, Millennium Development
Goals and on a national level the National Youth Development Policy Framework,
National Youth Commission Act as well as the National Youth Service Framework
of 2003.
In essence the youth policy speaks to the strengthening of social cohesion
amongst the youth as well as creating economic opportunities and job
opportunities for youth. To that extent the Northern Cape government has
already created a number of opportunities for youth.
Opportunities for the youth
The Department of Social Service and Population Development facilitates a
Youth Development programme, which amongst others supports organisations that
facilitate youth development as well as assist youth entrepreneurship
programmes.
The programme that is being launched here today is an example of such an
initiative and it will not only seek to enhance the skills of youth, but will
also create employment opportunities for them.
Another positive for youth that comes to mind is the Northern Cape Institute
for Higher Education.
Thirdly, there is the Premier's Trust Fund which funds certain fields of
study for students residing in the Northern Cape.
A fourth opportunity that has been created to assist the youth in the
Northern Cape is the Basha Fund, which will address youth development
initiatives directly. The fund was launched in March 2006 and is aimed at
providing loan funding to black enterprises that are owned by young black South
Africans within the Northern Cape province.
The Northern Cape Youth Commission has also embarked on a process to
establish a Youth Commerce Structure to assist young people further in business
development.
Other programmes for youth
The eradication of poverty is the number one priority in government's
efforts to building a better life for all.
Poverty relief initiatives facilitated by government are intended to enhance
the social and human capital within communities in line with the Northern Cape
Provincial Growth and Development Strategy to especially vulnerable groups
including the youth.
Government's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has created many
opportunities for training as well as employment to the vulnerable groups
including the youth in the Northern Cape and has amongst other addressed skill
shortages.
In relation to the EPWP, the Social Cluster departments namely the
Department of Health, the Department of Safety and Liaison, the Department of
Education and the Department of Social Services and Population Development have
respectively set targets to benefit close to 1 000 people in the Northern Cape
during the 2006/07 financial year.
Later this year the Department of Social Services and Population Development
will launch the Provincial Youth Development Forum. It is an inter-sectoral
stakeholder's forum at both provincial and local levels to ensure maximum youth
participation and involvement. The Youth Development Forum will also provide a
platform for debate which leads to the elaboration of opinions, experiences and
expertise of young people from all over the Northern Cape Province.
Importance of partnerships
The Youth Skills Development Initiative is a good example of the importance
of public private partnerships.
The Department of Social Services and Population Development will monitor
and evaluate the project and have given R636 000 towards the project.
This initiative will not only provide training to 30 youth from the Frances
Baard region, but will facilitate placements in the hospitality industry after
the training has been completed.
We would like to thank these businesses for their willingness to assist the
youth of our province and are calling on the private sector to come forward in
assisting government to enhance the lives of our youth.
The Northern Cape Provincial government values the participation of all the
sectors of our community including businesses and the community at large.
Partnerships are essential if we are to make positive contributions towards
the development of our province.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
15 November 2006
