Programme director
Members of the Portfolio Committee on Youth and Gender
Member of Portfolio Committee on Public Works
Executive mayor of Alfred Nzo
Mayors of Umzimvubu
Mayor of Matatiele
Councillors from all local municipalities
Chairperson and commissioners from Eastern Cape Youth Commission
Acting Head of Department of Public Works
Government officials from all spheres of government
Leaders of youth formations and structures
All protocols observed
Today we are here to officially launch the Department of Roads and Public Works National Youth Service programme as promised by Premier Kiviet during the state of the province address where she indicated that the department will be contracting 1 000 young cadets, provide them with technical skills so that they assist in the maintenance of public infrastructure.
The department has started with the recruitment process and we can confirm that the first 500 will be stating with training during January 2010. We greatly appreciate the support from Youth Commission, Umsobomvu and Department of Labour given during this process as we have received over 20 000 applications province wide. Such a high response indicates the high levels of poverty and unemployment of young people, hence service delivery requires to be focused on the youth and be accelerated. We anticipate that next group of 500 will commence July 2010.
Programme director, our country is currently faced with numerous challenges that need to be overcome in order to ensure a better life for all South Africans. Moral degeneration, crime prevention, the fight against HIV and AIDS, job creation and economic development are some of the priority issues on the government’s agenda. If we do not attempt to address these challenges we would have failed our youth leaders, OR Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Peter Mokaba and others.
“The youth has always been agents of change”. The youth of Mandela, Tambo, Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and Mhlaba accelerated the fight against apartheid through the establishment of UMkhonto WeSizwe. The youth of 76 reignited the torch for freedom and democracy, accelerated and intensified the struggle beyond a point of no return. The youth of today has a role to play in strengthening and defending our democracy, and accelerating service delivery.
Programme director, as a person who graduated from youth structures; let me take a quick look at the African Youth Charter as a guide towards youth development. Article 10 of the African Youth Charter states that:
1. Every young person shall have a right to social, economic, political and cultural development
2. States parties shall encourage youth organisations to lead youth programmes and to ensure the exercise of the right to development.
3. State parties shall:
* Encourage the media to disseminate information that will be of economic, political social and cultural benefit to youth.
* Encourage international co-operation in the production, exchange and dissemination of information from both national and international sources that are economic, social, and cultural values to youth.
* Provide access to information and education and training for young people to learn their rights and responsibilities, to be schooled in democratic processes, citizenship, decision making and so that they develop the technical skills and confidence to participate in these processes.
Our National Youth Service intends to address the above through the provision of accredited technical training on various technical skills through the assistance of Department of Labour. We hope that the Construction Training and Education Authority (CETA) will also come on board in future.
The second type of training will be the life skills from Umsobomvu which will assist the youth in inculcating the culture of citizenship, HIV nad AIDS, substance abuse and other life skills. The pool of qualified artisans within the department will provide mentoring support to the youth whilst placed on projects to repair and fix doors, window panes, leaking taps, replacing bulbs with energy saving ones and other minor maintenance work.
The duration of the programme will be 18 months including training and the youth will receive a stipend. After completion of the programme, the beneficiaries will then exit the programme. We expect that the selected youth who will participate in the programme must be committed, respect their managers and attend on daily bases. Any unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated. The ultimate goal is to develop youth that will be:
* handy persons who will be able to maintain any asset
* able to further their training on technical skills through the accredited training received
* able to start their own business in construction industry
* have a sense of responsibility by providing a service to community through the maintenance of the infrastructure that is of critical need
* provide experience to youth so that they become employable in future
In conclusion, I therefore urge your support and commitment to make this endeavour a success. Furthermore, given the scenario of unemployment articulated above, I challenge other public bodies to introduce their own National Youth Service programmes under the auspices of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). My department is ready and willing to provide support in the initiation of such programmes.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
6 November 2009
Source: Department of Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.dpw.ecprov.gov.za/)
