This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the Soweto students’ uprising, the event that exposed the brutality and thoughtlessness of the trigger-happy apartheid regime. Ironically, it is this brutality that worked to mobilise thousands of young people across the length and breadth of our country behind the struggle against white minority rule, the activities of 16 June 1976 also assisted in mobilising a sizable portion of the international community against the crime of apartheid. There can be no doubt that it was generations of young people who made a dream of a democratic South Africa a reality.
Since the democratic breakthrough in 1994, the government has worked tirelessly to address the issues and interest of young people. While much has been done since 1994, there can be no denying that much more still needs to be done. The Limpopo Youth Commission has been in the forefront of the struggle to better the lives of our young people.
The Commission has a series of memorial lectures throughout all five districts of Limpopo to educate our young people about the history and relevance of 16 June. These lecturers will be addressed by various speakers most of whom have a first hand experience of the activities of 16 June.
The highlight of our 16 June month will be the Youth Day celebration; the object of this year's celebration will be to commemorate 16 June and to celebrate the gains of South Africa's young democracy and particularly its impact on the lives of our young people. This important event will take place on 16 June at the University of Venda stadium, at the Thulamela municipality in the district of Vhembe.
The Youth Commission will also stage a Golf tournament as part of the endeavour to encourage youth participation in socio-economic development. Fifty young entrepreneurs will partake in this event. The Golf tournament will take place on 18 June at the Euphoria Golf Estate, Naboomspruit.
The Youth Commission will also work with the Limpopo legislature to stage the annual Youth Parliament. The purpose of the Youth parliament is to mobilise young people to interact on issues that affect them on daily basis. The parliament will take place on 12 June at Tubatse, Sekhukhune district.
Together with Vodacom, youth commission, Umsobomvu youth fund and South African Youth Council have taken the initiative to fast track consultative processes towards the creation of a conducive environment for the implementation and acceleration of a provincial policy summit. The public and young people in particular are encouraged to sms their inputs on the number 32 715 by typing ' youthcom' as the keyword. We are envisaging a process wherein ordinary young people will inform the outcome of the policy summit.
We are also going to lobby print and electronic media, community leaders, churches and non governmental organisation (NGOs) to encourage young people to partake in these consultative processes through the province. The summit will take place from the 26 to 27 June at the Park Hotel in Mokopane. Purpose of the summit is to provide input on the youth development legislations at a provincial level and also pave a way forward for the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
The press conference marks the last youth month programme with our current commissioners and the welcome of the new premier, Mr Cassel Mathale. As we continue to advance youth development at a provincial level we would also like to welcome and acknowledge the new ministry which will have a special focus on young people however, noting that youth development can never be treated as a sectoral matter and that it cuts across all spheres of government and private sector. We are therefore calling upon all departments and private sector to work together with the youth commission in ensuring that as per our agreement these envisaged programmes become a reality.
Launch of the Youth Month (Press Conference)
To outline the entire youth month programme:
Date: 1 June 2009
Activity: Capricorn (Polokwane SAYC and Limpopo Youth Commission Youth Parliament (representation to be in line with seats in the legislature)
Objective: To deepen and consolidate democracy
Date: 12 June 2009
Activity: Sekhukhune (Tubatse) Legislature, Youth Commission and SAYC Youth day celebration
Objective: To commemorate the 1976 students uprising
Date: 16 June 2009
Venue: University of Venda for Science and Technology Limpopo Youth Commission and SAYC
Activity:
Premier Youth Golf Tournament
Objective: To encourage participation of youth in sports and business networking
Date: 17 June 2009
Venue: Euphoria, Waterburg
Limpopo Youth Commission SAYC
Activity: Provincial Youth Summit
Objective: To provide inputs on the Youth Development Act at a provincial level
Date: 26 June 2009
Venue: Waterberg (The Park Hotel) SAYC and Limpopo Youth Commission
Activity: Gala dinner Youth Networking Session
Enquiries:
Thembi Siweya
Limpopo Youth Commission
Tel: (015) 287 6658
Fax: (015) 295 7667
Fax to email: 086 665 4162
Cell: 072 879 1418
E-mail: siweyat@premier.limpopo.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
4 June 2009
