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The DA Youth welcomes the fact that, during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Zuma undertook to deal decisively with the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. Therefore, we re-iterate five key reforms the President needs to implement in order to transform the lives of South Africa's youth:

Implement the Youth Wage Subsidy by 1 April.
Reform the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
De-politicise the National Youth Development Agency.
Scrap the VAT on textbooks.
Declare teaching an essential service.

One of the most critical announcements made by the President in his SONA was the budgetary allocation of R300 million for the construction of two universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. Universities are key institutions for driving skills, growth and development, and extending freedom and opportunity in the long run. This announcement is certainly one of the highlights of President Zuma's address.

It is unfortunate, however, that the President failed to mention the Youth Wage Subsidy he announced at the last SONA, and which is being stalled by his own government’s alliance partners. The Youth Wage Subsidy seeks to incentivise the absorption of first-time job seekers into the formal economy, and provide much needed on-the-job training for our youth. President Zuma needed to assure South Africa's young and unemployed citizens that he would be implementing the Youth Wage Subsidy as a matter of urgency. A Youth Wage Subsidy would go a long way toward complementing the extended skills base that two new universities would provide.

The DA Youth will hold the President accountable to his promises and urges him to stand firm against the unions and other alliance partners determined not to see young South Africans on the road to prosperity.