President and the ANCYL
10 February 2006
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka today, Friday 10 February 2006, held
a meeting with the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) to discuss
the Leagueâs inputs to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South
Africa (ASGI-SA).
ANCYL President Fikile Mbalula led the delegation.
The meeting is a follow up on the issues discussed between the ANCYL and the
Deputy President in an earlier meeting where the Deputy President committed to
ongoing dialogue with the league and other youth formations on matters of
concern to the youth.
The meeting was in line with the ASGI-SAâs task teamâs continued exploration
for opportunities to grow the economy of South Africa by consulting with a
range of sectors including the youth.
The Deputy President shared with the meeting that government remains
committed to achieve its youth development objectives. âWe remain open to
interaction with all progressive forces that do not only criticise but also
share ideas and approaches on how we can identify new ways to deal with the
challenges facing youth and the people of South Africa in generalâ.
The Deputy President indicated that the short and medium term opportunities
that were identified last year will go a long way in altering patterns of
economic participation for young people and these opportunities included:
* National Youth Service
* National Entrepreneurship
* Job Creation
âInclusion of these programmes in the 2006 Programme of Action will help us
monitor and manage how far we achieve our aims of reducing youth unemployment.
We are encouraged by the positive feedback we have received after the launch of
the Unemployed Graduates Initiative last December. Many unemployed graduates
are now getting work experience and employment opportunities from the public
and private sectors. This initiative should be sustained and further
broadenedâ, said the Deputy President.
The Deputy President informed the meeting that the planned policy review
will go a long way in helping government identify and formulate long term
opportunities. These opportunities will find expression in the Integrated Youth
Development Strategy that will form part of the youth policy framework which
will result in the amalgamation of the existing youth development
institutions.
The ANCYL President Fikile Mbalula said ASGI-SA must benefit the youth and
create more employment opportunities.
Enquiries:
Kanyo Gqulu
Advisor to the Deputy President
Cell: 083 293 3377
Zizi Kodwa
ANCYL spokesperson
Cell: 082 330 4910
Issued by: The Presidency
10 February 2006
