Speech by Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Mr Jeff Radebe, on the occasion of the Youth Dialogue on the 21st International AIDS conference in Durban
Welcome once more to this dialogue with the youth from around the City of EThekwini. We have convened a number of youth events, particularly during the past youth month, because we take youth as the most important sector with regards the development of our country. As youth are the future of our country, it is our duty that all development programmes across the full spectrum of our socio-economic transformation reflect this reality.
Amongst the challenges facing the country and most importantly the youth of our country are those pertaining combating the spread of HIV, the prevalence of AIDS and the various responses therein.
Some of you may be aware already that here in Durban we will be hosting the International AIDS Conference from 18 to 22 July 2016. Over 20 000 delegates are expected to attend this conference from nearly 180 countries. We have just concluded one of the Inter-Ministerial Committee meetings aimed at organising the various issues pertaining to hosting this very important conference. We deemed it necessary that we should take you into confidence as the youth of our country with regards this conference because as I have said the youth are the most affected and infected.
We have therefore set aside this afternoon to continue our direct engagement with you as the future leaders and captains of industry in our country. This dialogue is a continuation of the dialogues that the democratic government conducts regularly with the youth. These conversations have led to the development of social compacts such as the Youth Accord; Youth Employment Accord; and the National Youth Policy 2015-2020, amongst others.
The timing of this dialogue assumes a certain significance, as it occurs just as we conclude the historic commemoration of the youth month of June 2016, during which we commemorated the 40th Anniversary of the Soweto Student Uprisings of 1976. We commemorated the gallant and visionary young leaders of that era and the sacrifices they made. Accordingly, we also usher in the birth month of the iconic founding father of our democratic nation, the late former President Nelson Mandela who amongst others was in the forefront of the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Our dialogue today also derives further significance from the April 2016 report by Statistics South Africa, on the Social Profile of Youth 2009-2014, which analyzed the socio-economic and demographic profile of the youth in South Africa. This report indicates that the youth population, that is people aged 15 to 34 years, grew from 18,5 million to 19,6 million between 2009 and 2014, and that it now constitutes around 36% to the total population of the country.
Stats SA’s Social Profile of the Youth reflects a range of challenges facing young people, including the quality of education; inadequate access to skills and training opportunities; high unemployment rate (70% over the last decade); vulnerability to violence and crime; as well susceptibility to communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and TB. The report further indicates that 43,2 percent of young men die from external causes like violent crime or car accidents, while infectious diseases are most likely to cause the death of young women.
Most importantly, and of relevance to today’s dialogue, the Social Profile of the Youth draws attention to the imperative that all of us need to do more to reduce the number of youth dying from infectious and parasitic diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), influenza and pneumonia, as well as the number of youth dying from external causes of morbidity and mortality.
The 21st Annual International AIDS Conference is an opportunity to take stock of the progress the world is making in improving access to prevention, treatment and eliminating the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. It brings together scientists, researchers, academics, government and civil society leaders, and people from all walks of life. South Africa will also showcase its major successes and new interventions in the field of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.
South Africa is now a model country in the management of this disease. South Africa has the largest ARV programme in the world, with 3.4 million people on treatment. In 2015/16 alone, a total of 12,2 million tests were conducted. Additionally, empirical evidence from the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) reflects that Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV has decreased consistently from 8.5 per cent in 2008 to 1,5% per cent in 2015. As a result of these successful interventions, more lives of babies and young children are being saved daily. South Africa’s infant mortality rate has decreased significantly, from 56 per 1000 in 2009 to 39 per 1000 in 2014 (MRC, 2015). The technical and scientific knowledge that will be exchanged during the conference will further buttress our efforts to overcome HIV and AIDS.
Our current key message on combatting the spread of HIV is that prevention is the better than cure. If you are sexually active, protect yourself and your sexual partners by always using a condom. “We don’t want a hand-out, we want a hand up!” This is an affirmation that the youth must take bold lead in the resolution of the various challenges facing them and that includes the HIV and AIDS scourge.
Finally, I look forward to a vibrant and dynamic discussion with you this afternoon.
I thank you!
Enquiries:
Mmabatho Ramompi
Cell: 076 480 3513
Tshegofatso Modubu
Cell: 083 276 0786
