Ramatlabama: North West Premier Maureen Modiselle says the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) does not mean that challenges facing young people will suddenly disappear.
Speaking at the Provincial celebration of youth day on Tuesday at Ramatlabama village, Premier Modiselle said, compared to their 1976 counterparts, young people today are facing more complex challenges.
She said the challenges facing young people include high rates of unemployment, poverty, low levels of education and skills, threats of HIV and AIDS, substance abuse and crime.
"The commemoration of this day, calls on all of us to make sure that the freedom that the youth selflessly fought and died for, translates into economic benefit and opportunities," Modiselle said.
Each year, South Africa commemorates Youth Day, in remembrance of the 1976 Soweto uprisings and the sacrifices made by young people of that time. The commemoration coincided with the launch of the NYDA which is a merger between Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the Youth Commission.
Regarding the economic empowerment of young people, Ms Modiselle said the provincial government will continue to intensify the implementation of Expanded Public Works Programme to provide opportunities for the Youth.
The Premier further said the promotion and the development of skills and the entry of the young people into employment through learnership and internship programmes had continued and proved to be successful and will be intensified.
"Skills development has a key role to play in the economic empowerment of our youth. Failure in the skills development front of economic empowerment will constrain progress on all other fronts and render gains made unsustainable in the longer term," she explained.
In addition, Premier Modiselle said the provincial government will continue to ensure that it support youth-owned small businesses and co-operatives to make sure that youth benefit from government contract.
She added: "The Office of the Premier shall increase its monitoring capacity to ensure that all provincial departments procure services from youth companies and that all contracts awarded have youth representation."
Ms Modiselle urged young people to safeguard their future by avoiding early experiment with unsafe sex, alcohol and drugs and should rather commit themselves to learning and excel in sports.
She highlighted that the province will in the "next few months" begin repealing the North West Youth Commission Act to allow for a smooth transition to the NYDA.
Ms Modiselle said her government will soon make public, the decision on the filling of the vacancies in the Provincial Youth Commission in order to drive the process towards the NYDA.
For more information, contact:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Tel: 018 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
E-mail: cmonama@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
16 June 2009
