The youth of Ratanda, and Programme Director
Member of Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Ms Lindiwe Lasindwa,
Acting Mayor of Lesedi Local Municipality, Mr Teboho Tsoku,
MMC for Sports, Recreation, Arts, Culture & Heritage, Clr Mmakgomo Raikane
Acting Director General of Department of Communications,
Acting Director General of GCIS,
Chairpersons and CEO’s of Department’s Entities present here
All public representatives
Dumelang Sechaba sa Lesedi Local Municipality
Youth: our history, our future
The month of July is a very significant and important month in the history and calendar of South Africa and the world at large. On the 18th of July, South Africa and the world celebrate the life of our struggle icon and the father of our democratic nation, Tata Nelson Mandela's birthday. In 2010, United Nations General Assembly declared this day as the Nelson Mandela International Day. The celebration of this day recognises and gives credence our former President’s commitment to human rights, conflict resolution and reconciliation.
Tata played a special role in the development of the Freedom Charter. The year 2015, marks the 60th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter. The Freedom Charter is an important piece of policy document which captures the aspirations of many South Africans on the kind of country they would want to see in the future. The Freedom Charter laid the foundation for the development and adoption of our progressive Constitution we have in the country.
Today many of people’s lives have changed for better. Blacks who have been previously excluded from the main stream economy can now play a leading role through ownership of their own companies. We have been able to ensure that the quality of education and health system is improved significantly. Majority of our people have access to clean water from their homes, including access to electricity and affordable houses. We will not rest until the lives of our people can change for the better. I would like to further make a call to all young people to reflect, and cherish all the good that have been brought by Freedom Charter and seize opportunities brought about by the ANC-led government.
South Africa is now a constitutional democracy with an entrenched Bill of Rights embedding all the Freedom Charter demands that the people shall govern, all shall be equal before the law, and that all shall enjoy equal human rights. I invite the young people to study and understand the these eights.
We will continue to champion the cause of young people in theis country. For this government led by President Jacob Zuma, it is not business as usual when our young people continue to top the statistics of the unemployed in this country. In this regard, His Excellency, President Zuma, during the State of the Nation Address in February this year announced the nine point plan to grow the South African economy in order to address poverty, inequality and unemployment. We are confident that this plan will assist the country to address these challenges.
We are here today at Ratanda to share with the youth of this this community , the opportunities our government provides to you. You will hear from all of them what their offerings are. Entities which are here are the following and will request their representatives to stand up so that people can see them; namely; ICASA, SABC, BRAND SA, the Film and Publication board, the MDDA, and Government Communications and Information Systems.
During the last few months I have travelled across the length and breadth of the country; listening to challenges facing young people.
As the Minister of Communications, information and knowledge sharing is very close to my heart, and the subject of community media is something that I have taken a keen interest on.
A vibrant community media and a small-scale commercial media sector are essential to the transforming the media landscape in South Africa. Rural communities are underserviced by large-scale commercial media — which are generally concentrated in major cities and towns. As a result these communities have limited access to information and are limited in their ability to contribute their views and aspirations to public discourse in the country.
This needs to change. We have set ourselves a target to act decisively to ensure media transformation and diversity of views in the country. It cannot be correct that South Africa is seen through the same media lens both at local and international level with alternative voice. We will intensify our efforts to work with the media houses, which is patriotic to the growth and development of South Africa.
In this regard, we have engaged entities such as ICASA, the MDDA, Film and Publication Board and Brand SA, to start using the platform of community media to advertise their offerings and possible vacancies. It cannot be business as usual when the main stream media continue to enjoy the lion’s share of government’s advertising spend, while community media continue to suffer.
I’m not going to be apologetic about this approach for far too long main stream media continued to thrive through the resources from government, that needs to change, community media must also see advertising spend from government.
Why must a municipality in a rural area advertise a position of an administrator nationally? Why not advertise that position with community-based newspapers? By so doing they will not only reach community members such as you living here in Ratanda, but they also contribute towards generating revenue for your community media.
I know that there is a local newspaper here in Ratanda called Mapepeza Community Newspaper. We need more of Mapepeza here in Ratanda.
As community media, you are not here to compete with the likes of the SABC, Sowetan or The New Age, but your role is to serve the niche audience Ratanda, and surrounding areas. Your role as community media is to be a platform that showcases the achievements and aspirations of people here in Ratanda. Your role is also to be the mouthpiece of the community by giving them an opportunity to air their views on issues that they feel strongly about.
As community media you have responsibility to adhere to ethics of good practices of journalism. We know some of the main stream media have made it their own agenda to criticised government for no apparent reasons. Just Last week the President of the country released Farlam Report on Marikana, which received unnecessary negative publicity by the media. The main stream media failed to take into account the recommendation and remedial action that were presented by the President. But the media decided to make their own interpretation, and draw their own conclusions. Members of community media present here today, let us not follow this trend of bad news reporting, let’s adhere to principle of balance news reporting.
As Minister of Communications it will not be correct for me censor any media, but it is my responsibility to advocate responsible news reporting. Our Media today is littered with stories that are quote unnamed sources and who these unnamed sources are and what is their agenda?
Another example is that the Minister of Police tabled a detail report on the upgrading of our President private house in Nkandla, but media still go with so called unnamed source when reporting on this matter, and distorting facts.
In the coming weeks, our in-house monthly publication Vukuzenzele, which is widely and freely distributed across the country, will start advertising government jobs in their monthly editions. This is another effort from the Department of Communication to make the process of searching for work easier for communities and young job-seekers.
As the Department begins the process of distributing set-top boxes for the digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration project, it is our duty and priority to ensure that many communities and young people become involved in this economic activity. My department, together with the Department of Labour, will design a course for those who want to become accredited installers of set-top- boxes so that they can have formal training and the expertise necessary to install these boxes. The details of this DTT project will be advertised in various community newspaper platforms in due course.
For the country to grow faster and for more people to be employed, legislation requires business to consider employment equity, black economic empowerment, the environment, skills development, local content, small-business development, community social responsibility and several location-specific imperatives, such as Broadcasting Local Content strategies. As the Department of Communication, I want to see young people taking this opportunity, and making meaningful contribution, by telling their own stories as documentary producers and film makers.
We all have the responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to the country’s economic growth and development. We as government will provide the platform, but it is up to you young people to grab the opportunity provided.
I have brought along various entities here with me today:
If you are young person and you want look for opportunities as documentary producer, SABC commissioning editors are here to give you guidance.
If you are young person and are looking for opportunities to venture into rolling out Wi-Fi hot spots in your community, the regulator ICASA is here to listen to your aspirations and give you guidance.
The MDDA is here to give you guidance on how to go about as community media to apply for funding.
We all have responsibility to make difference in this country, if you want to know how to market your township; Brand SA is here to give you advice. The government communications unit is also here to assist you to get government related programmes.
Music and video piracy is hurting the economy. The Film and Publications Board is here to discuss with you issue of piracy, including child pornography. The Department of Communications team is here to assist you with any further queries and question that you may have.
Let us all work towards building a country that we can all be proud of. In line with President Jacob Zuma nine point plan to ignite growth and create jobs. My department will strive to achieve the goals set by our president.
I thank you
