National Assembly Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula to launch Makhanda Parliamentary Constituency Office with a two-day youth-targeted outreach programme in Makhanda
The National Assembly (NA) Speaker, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, will next week, launch the Makhanda Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) with a two-day learner-targeted outreach programme scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, 11-12 April 2022.
Parliament has embarked on a programme of reimagining, remodelling and repurposing of Parliamentary Constituency Offices as strategic points of the people-parliament interface. In terms of the Constitution, Sections 59 and 72, Parliament has a duty to promote public access and meaningful participation in parliamentary processes and activities. Over 200 participants, inclusive of 150 learners from 11 multi-quintal schools of Makhanda as well as leaders of state and non-state agencies with a critical role to play in child and youth development in South Africa will be in attendance.
National Assembly Speaker decided on the two-day outreach programme to the Makhanda Parliamentary Constituency to focus on the engagement and empowerment of young people through inter-generational dialogue and exposure. The programme seeks to celebrate the significant improvements in the 2021 matric pass rates in the Eastern Cape and to address challenges that inhibit youths’ realisation of their full potential in the area. These challenges include the spread of HIV and AIDS with over 12.5% of the population of Makana living with the disease, gender-based violence and femicide, bullying in schools, toxic masculinity, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies.
Through partnerships with a range of state and non-state development organisations, an exhibition will be mounted offering inspirational information and opportunities for youth development and growth. Lined up to anchor the exhibition with Parliament are stakeholders such as Rhodes, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Save the Children South Africa, the South African Disability Alliance as well as Arts and Culture, Health and Education Departments.
The two-day programme features plenary sessions where leaders of Parliament will engage young people, a jamboree where youth will access information and engage with facilitators about challenges facing young people.
The programme also features leadership in the South African legislative sector and government. These include the Presiding Officers of Parliament – Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula and NCOP Chairperson Amos Masondo, Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli and Deputy Chairperson Sylvia Lucas, Eastern Cape Legislature Speaker Helen Sauls-August and Deputy Speaker Mlibo Qhoboshiyane, Deputy Sports Arts and Culture Minister Nocawe Mafu, Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, Higher Education Science and Technology Portfolio Committee Chairperson Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, Sarah Baartman District Municipality Speaker Nomhle Gaga, Makhanda Mayor Yandiswa Vara, and Speaker Mthuthuzeli Matyumza.
Parliament plans to roll out similar programmes of reengineering PCO and raising the bar in meaningfully engaging young people in all provinces.
Details of the two-day programme are as follows:
Outreach programme
Date: Monday, 11 April – Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Time: 08:30 – 15:00
Venue: 1820 Settlers Monument, Makhanda
Contituency lauch
Date: 11 April
Time: 15:00
Venue: Makhanda Parliamentary Constituency Office
NB: Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula will lead a dry-run on Sunday 10 April and also address the media on the state of readiness for the ground-breaking outreach programme on Sunday afternoon at 15:00.
Media wishing to cover the event must send their details (Full Names, ID number, Media House, Designation) to Ms Masego Dlula on mdlula@parliament.gov.za or contact 081 715 9398 on/before Saturday, 9 April, 2022 @ 12:00 noon.
Members of the public may follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV (DSTV Channel 408) via the live stream on Parliament’s YouTube channel, Facebook and Twitter pages.
You may subscribe to the Parliament YouTube channel to receive instant notification of live feeds.
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