Programme Director
Deputy/Ministers present here
Members of Parliament
Councillors and Community Leaders
Deputy National Commissioner of Police, Lt Gen Sitole, Provincial Commissioner of Police and
SAPS Top Management and Police Officers
All Youth Delegates gathered here
Distinguished guests
Yesterday was a birthday of one of our greatest leaders in South Africa, Mr. Oliver Reginald Tambo, who had this to say about our youth: “A country, a movement, a people, that does not value its youth, does not deserve its future”.
This gathering is attesting that South Africa is, has, and will always regard young people as one of the main focus sectors of our country. We can actually count a host of specific initiatives, innovations, programmes and projects that have always sought to involve young people for their own development and empowerment.
Our Government has initiated Youth Parliament; innovated the Youth Development Agency (YDA); put forward a long-term programme in the form of the National Youth Policy 2020; and projected Schools Safety Project under the auspice of a Protocol Agreement between the Department of Basic Education and the South African Police Service.
And there are indeed many more of these youth innovations.
All the above endeavours are a direct call for young people to be involved in the development of this country; it is asking the youth of this country to come forward to be actively involved in addressing all factors that may lead to their adversities.
The mere fact that you are here is, a vivid and vital acknowledgement by the ANC led Government that we need to involve you in creating the change, and not simply targeting you for empowerment.
But, Ladies and Gentlemen, for young people to be able to fully and actively participate in the development of this country, we need to ensure that our young people receive quality education.
It is a fact that the better educated the young person is, the more likely s/he is to participate more fully to move South Africa forward. Therefore, Government is in support of the peaceful and orderly student protests that demand equal access to education for all.
Increasing equity in quality education will increase access to development of scarce skills in the young people that are so needed to help develop South Africa in its entirety. All stakeholders must thus have a desire to make education accessible. Government alone can’t do it.
We must all (Government, Business, Labour, etc) help develop this desire for accessible education to our young people, because after all, education continues to be an important factor that will improve the standards of living for every young person.
However, I must immediately put it to you, young people that, to make South Africa a great diverse united nation, you need to have high self-esteem, discipline, endurance, commitment and passion about yourself as a young South African.
You need to be grounded in the values of a good conduct, high work ethic and patriotism. Don’t get astray by peer pressures and family difficulties.
The environment that you are living in is totally different from that was experienced by your parents. For instance, there are many new opportunities that are made available to you, that were never available to your parents.
In the same vein, there are many difficulties faced by young people that were never experienced by previous generations. Extreme Poverty, high unemployment, deadly diseases, and violent crime are indeed major adversities that have come to plague and hinder the full development of our youth.
You must thus continuously seek for good role models within the community you live in, a person that can show you how to overcome huge challenges to become a good standing successful citizen.
For instance, there is a national young model in the form of a 29 year old Boitumelo Phakathi, who is South Africa youngest black female surgeon in Pretoria.
She completed her masters in general surgery. She saw it as a great achievement, because it was a challenge.
Phakathi, from Taung in the North West, said her dream of becoming a doctor was inspired by her desire to contribute to improving the health services in South Africa.
Although Phakathi did not have the money for university, she researched how she may be able to get funding. And this is the high work ethic we seek from you, young people: Perserverance & Prioritising Your Country.
South Africa needs young people such as Phakathi, who is skilled and still remain in the country to carry out the vision 2020.
We must not think that there are more opportunities somewhere rather than your own country. Once you get skilled, stay at home and improve conditions of South Africa. Do not be part of the “brain drain”.
You are the future of this country; therefore utilise this platform to bring new ideas and energy to the pool of knowledge that is already here.
Bring your youthful enthusiasm and vitality, so that you can discover and deliberate on resolutions that can benefit the country and the South African Police Service.
I conclude by wishing all the matriculants all the best in their final examinations.
I thank you all.
