29 January 2007
Army conscription could be a perfect way of instilling on young South
Africans discipline and full appreciation of the importance of the hard-won
freedom, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said at the weekend.
Minister Mdladlana was addressing a ceremony to commemorate King Mampuru of
the Bapedi nation and King Nyabela of amaNdebele at Mamone village in
Limpopo.
Quoting from the African National Congress' (ANC) Strategy and Tactics
document, the Minister proposed: "Conscripting our young people would not only
help inculcate discipline but make them understand better the importance of
defending our hard-earned liberation."
"The worrying trend whereby our youth are involved in the current spate of
armed robberies and other related violent crimes that are ravaging our country
could be reversed once they join the army," he said.
On accelerating service delivery, the Minister said that government
officials who were reluctant to implement the ANC's transformation processes
were a detriment to the government's drive to better the lives of ordinary
people.
"We must kick doors to bring services to the people," he said.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Issued by: Department of Labour
29 January 2007
