Programme director
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to address the entrepreneurial champions of tomorrow. It is a privilege to honour the spirit and legacies of OR Tambo and Solomon Mahlangu.
Both of them were giants in the struggle to attain freedom and democracy, and their selfless legacy of caring for the next generation lives on today in the ethos and values of the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) Trust.
The Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College or SOMAFCO Trust as it is better known has led the way in empowering young people to change their lives since its inception in 2006. To this day it continues to light the way and lives the ethos, and principles of OR Tambo and Solomon Mahlangu.
Our historic struggle for liberation and freedom might have ended in 1994 but our quest to build a better nation continues unabated. Just as OR Tambo and Solomon Mahlangu lived and died for freedom we have a duty as this generation to defeat the triple scourge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Freedom without meaningful economic change is hollow and we must do more to address the devastating legacy of apartheid that still lingers today.
Interventions such as this are therefore vitally important if we are to defeat the legacy of apartheid, grow our economy and make it more inclusive.
As a country we cannot sit back and do nothing, or assume that our challenges will be solved by someone else. Since 2006 the SOMAFCO Trust has empowered countless South Africans to take the future into their own hands, to start earning a living and to help others succeed.
Programme director
This event comes at a time when we have completed consultations on the draft national youth policy. You have shared with us the essentials that this policy should contain in order to ensure your development. We were also inspired by the enthusiasm with which you have engaged with the draft policy.
We are excited to share with you that we are in the process of consolidating your submissions which will be soon signed into law.
Programme director
These are the sort of success stories that we want to see more of.
Over the next five years government will move to deepen our economic transformation. The key driver in this regard is the National Development Plan (NDP), our strategic vision for 2030.
The National Development Plan (NDP) envisages a thriving economy which has trebled in size by 2030 with a target of 11 million job opportunities. The National Youth Policy will serve to guide our approaches to achieve the goals in the NDP.
Ladies and gentlemen
If we are to make the NDP a reality we will need to harness the inherent talent and promise that lies within our youth. Seated before me are the next generation of leaders, within you burns the undying spirit of OR Tambo and Solomon Mahlangu.
The future is waiting to be claimed and this generation will lead the way in moving South Africa forward. When I first heard about the Legends in the Making programme I was instantly excited by it. Its focus on entrepreneurship and on harnessing talent is a crucial intervention.
I am particularly excited by the entrepreneur programme which invites young people to become part of the solution to poverty, inequality and unemployment by growing their own careers. Through this process, selected youngsters will be empowered and given the tools to build their own futures.
On a broader level this is the sort of initiative we need to have more of in our country. Through Legends in the Making, SOMAFCO is doing its bit to tackle the triple scourge of poverty, inequality and unemployment by growing tomorrow's leaders. I am confident that this process will not only empower young people to grow their own careers, it will also enable our youth to become entrepreneurs and create jobs.
I am equally excited by the second leg of Legends in the Making which takes the form of a music competition. It will give aspiring artists much needed exposure and will generate publicity for their music in the process.
Programme director
Allow me to assure you that government is heartened by your efforts to change the lives of young people and to build a better and more prosperous nation.
For our part we also have several exciting plans in place to grow small business and to ensure greater levels of entrepreneurship. Small business and entrepreneurship is a mechanism to draw new entrants into the economy, strengthen inclusive growth, build the social economy, encourage solidarity and create large numbers of jobs.
One of our priorities is to ensure greater participation in the economy by historically disadvantaged communities.
We have already begun to implement this through our Medium-Term Strategic Framework 2014 - 2019. It sets out 14 outcomes around which we will mobilise all sectors of our society and it aims to ensure more equitable growth of the economy.
We are also confident that the new Department of Small Business Development will lead to greater levels of entrepreneurship. Its focus on enterprise coaching, mentorship, incubation and intensive support programmes will no doubt serve to further unlock the limitless potential that lies within our youth.
Ladies and gentlemen
We dare not let the sacrifices of those who secured our historic freedom and democracy be in vain. Just as the previous generation of patriots fought so that we may be free, this generation has a responsibility to build on the foundations of our democracy and make it stronger.
Government seeks social partners such as yourself and other key stakeholders to work with us in building a thriving and more inclusive economy. We have to radically transform the economy to serve the needs, interests and aspirations of all our people.
Legends in the Making is truly an exciting programme and it will be no surprise if it yields future CEOs and music legends.
Programme director
In closing allow me to recite once more the haunting final words of Solomon Mahlangu: "My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom. Tell my people that I love them. They must continue the fight.”
Friends, our fight is far from over. Our long walk must continue. It will take our collective efforts if we are to build a better and more prosperous nation.
Every one of us has a role to play in assisting young South Africans to reach their full potential. We dare not allow this generation of young people to flounder without hope for a better future. Together we can empower young people and give them the tools to rise above their circumstances by allowing them to flourish.
Our nation can learn from the values and commitment of the SOMAFCO Trust to changing lives. Collectively we have a duty to empower our youth to do extraordinary things and we must provide them with the confidence and the necessary skills to succeed.
I look forward to seeing the spirit of competition but also of brother and sisterhood that will form part of Legends in the Making. This is an opportunity for young people to build the country of their and our collective dreams.
I thank you.
