B Creecy on launch of Youth Month

31 May 2007

Every year youth month offers us an opportunity to remember, commemorate and
pay tribute to those young people who sacrificed their lives in the struggle
for a free and democratic South Africa. It also offers us an opportunity to
take stock of and highlight what we as government, in partnership with youth,
have done in improving the lives of young people in Gauteng.

This year's theme for Youth Month is 'Deepening Youth Participation in
Development through Service,' and will see a variety of events being held
throughout Gauteng. Many of the activities being co-ordinated by the Gauteng
Youth Commission are being held in partnership with provincial and local
government.

On 13 June, the Gauteng Provincial Government and the Gauteng Youth
Commission will host youth izimbizos throughout the province. These Imbizos
form part of government's programme of direct interaction with residents and
allows for feedback from communities which enable government to streamline
service delivery aimed at improving people's lives. This month the focus will
be on youth and hearing what young people have to say.

The event on 16 June, National Youth Day, is being organised jointly by the
Gauteng Provincial Government, the Gauteng Youth Commission, the City of
Johannesburg and the June 16 Foundation. On 16 June the day's activities will
start at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum where Gauteng Premier
Mbhazima Shilowa will be joined by Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Amos
Masondo, Chairperson of the Gauteng Youth Commission, Lebogang Maile, and
members of the June 16 Foundation. Thereafter, the Premier will deliver a
keynote address at Johannesburg Stadium in Bertrams, from 10h00. The political
programme will be followed by entertainment by leading South African
artists.

As outlined by the Gauteng Youth Commission, other activities include
economic opportunities road shows, where we provide information on how to
improve young people's access to the economy, youth volunteer activities, and
events around crime, disability, HIV and AIDS and xenophobia.

The provincial government regards youth development as an important part of
the province's vision to transform Gauteng into a globally competitive city
region. The Global City Region (GCR) plan aims to improve economic growth, job
creation and the social conditions of all of Gauteng's people by improving
co-operation, integration and co-ordination across administrative boundaries.
It provides a framework for a range of development strategies. In 2005, we
adopted the Gauteng Integrated Youth Development Strategy for 2004-2009, which
provides a basis for the implementation of a variety of policies and programmes
aimed at youth development.

Last year we established the Gauteng Youth Commission to advise the Gauteng
Provincial Government on youth development matters and to strengthen the
partnership between government and the youth in the province. The commission
represents youth from all walks of life in Gauteng including youth involved in
faith-based organisations, business, political and disability movements, human
rights, gender issues, HIV and AIDS, community policing, skills and
entrepreneurial development.

In his opening address to the legislature this year the Premier highlighted
the progress we have made and the plans ahead in reversing apartheid's legacy
and in addressing the developmental needs of young people.

The economic empowerment of young people remains a key priority for the
Gauteng Provincial Government. Through the Expanded Public Works Programme
close to 15 000 people in Gauteng have found employment and this year we will
provide opportunities for 20 000 people of whom 30% will be youth. The
promotion and development of skills and the entry of young people into
employment through our learnership and internship programme is continuing and
proving to be very successful. By the end of last year we had already achieved
our 2009 target of 8% of our workforce in learnerships and internships. We will
now aim to ensure that, by 2009, 9,5 percent of our total workforce is young
people on experiential training.

The Premier announced that this year the province would launch an artisan
skills training programme with an initial intake of 8 000 young people. In
addition to learnerships and internships, we will continue to ensure that we
support youth-owned small businesses and co-operatives through the Gauteng
Enterprise Propeller and ensure that youth benefit from government contracts
and training programmes.

We celebrate 16 June, 31 years after the initial youth demonstrations, as a
reminder to ourselves and to future generations that the freedoms and liberties
that we enjoy today are a product of the efforts and sacrifices of the many
young men and women who relentlessly and fearlessly committed themselves to
this cause.

1976 marked a decisive change in the constitution and character of the
liberation struggle. By assuming leadership of the liberation movement, young
people positioned themselves as crucial contributors in shaping a just and free
South Africa, based on democracy and respect for human rights.

This year, let us pledge to build on that proud legacy and create a stronger
partnership between government, youth and all other stakeholders, towards
building a better Gauteng for all, regardless of age, race, and gender.

A detailed Youth Month programme will be issued later today.

For more information contact:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation
Tel: 011 355 2578
Cell: 083 507 8068

Motshidisi Mokwena
Gauteng Youth Commission
Tel: 011 403 1636
Cell: 082 468 8752

Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng
Provincial Government
31 May 2007