Date: 28/11/2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Premier's Youth Awards
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER DR. POPO SIMON MOLEFE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2003/04 PREMIER'S YOUTH AWARDS, Mmabatho Convention Centre, 28 November 2003
Programme Director,
MECs,
Executive Mayors and Mayors present,
Leaders of the youth movement,
Valued sponsors of this event,
Honoured Guests,
Representatives of the media,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
What a great honour and privilege to welcome you once more to the Premier's Youth Awards for the year 2003.
This is truly a historic occasion as it is taking place towards the end of the first decade of freedom and democracy in our country. This is a decade at the beginning of which we were faced with the challenge of defining our identity as a nation.
While the wounds inflicted by our unhappy past were still fresh and painful to many of our people, we were determined not to become prisoners of our past. We were unrepentant in our resolve to build a prosperous, democratic and united society.
This we did because we knew very well that the majority of our people were not prepared to settle for anything less. They were prepared to build a future where our children, both black and white, would share equally the opportunities that the new democracy would bring.
It is this understanding that guided us as we began the task of reconstructing our country. We knew that the road ahead would not be easy or straightforward. Like a battlefield at the end of a bitter war, we knew that it would be filled with undetonated landmines, full of surprises. It kept our adrenalin high and our heartbeat ever more fast.
As we look back on the road we have travelled we are immediately engulfed by a sense of accomplishment. Like a triumphant army that has just returned from a protracted war, we are ready to claim our victories and immediately prepare for the challenges of the future.
Programme Director, one of the victories we are justified in claiming and celebrating is the massive progress we have made in empowering the youth of our country.
We have put in place a progressive policy and legislative framework in order to facilitate meaningful interaction between government and the youth of our country.
We have also afforded our young people an opportunity to advise their government on matters close to their hearts.
The Youth Commission, which is located in the Office of the Premier, continues to be a vital link between government and the youth. It has succeeded in locating youth development at the centre of the machinery of government.
In this regard let us take this opportunity to acknowledge the sterling work done by the previous Youth Commissions in pioneering youth development in the province. In particular we thank their Chairpersons: Moeti Moiloa, Kabelo Moepeng and Tshepo Belebese.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today in honour of those young men and women of our province, who have overcome all odds and proved their mettle in various fields. Not even the conditions of the underprivileged that many of them were subjected to could deter them from the pursuit of their dreams. This gathering also belongs to those young people who are, quietly and selflessly, making a difference in the lives of their communities. Like true patriots and volunteers for reconstruction and development, they have put their collective shoulder to the wheel in the ongoing effort to build a better province.
We have gathered here in honour of young people who are using their talents and entrepreneurial spirit to contribute towards the strategic goal of transforming the economic landscape of our province.
We are also here to salute those of our young people who have performed exceptionally well in the fields of arts and culture, information and communications technology and sciences.
In many respects, the young people we are honouring this evening are true ambassadors of our province. They are our pride, our role models, our heroes and heroines and indeed they are a fountain of inspiration to us all.
We congratulate them.
That so many of our young people are today able to excel in areas that were previously the exclusive domain of a few, is an indication of the correctness of our policies and interventions in terms of youth development.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life of our young people we have established the North West Youth Development Trust, whose purpose is to address the plight of young people particularly with regard to access to higher education.
We have also fostered the creation of strong relations between the North West Provincial Youth Commission and the National Youth Commission, the South African Youth Council as well as the Umsobomvu Youth Fund.
This we can say without fear of contradiction that our interventions aimed at promoting youth development are starting to bear fruits. For many young people, our country and province is now a better place than it was in 1994.
While our achievements are worth celebrating, they must not lull us into complacency and a false sense of comfort. We still have a long way to go.
One of the immediate challenges we face is to address the economic plight of our young people. Far too many of them still find themselves marginalized from the economic mainstream because of unemployment and lack of skills.
These young people are denied the opportunity to contribute to the reconstruction and development of their country - an issue close to their hearts.
In response to this challenge we as government have introduced the National Youth Service Programme as a vehicle to create employment for our youth.
We are also seized in the strategic task of providing skills to our youth through learnerships and internship programmes.
We have also prioritised the strengthening of the further education and training sector in order to create opportunities for our youth to acquire relevant skills.
In addition, we continue to create entrepreneurial opportunities for young people including youth cooperatives and collectives enterprises.
As a province we are committed to the implementation of the resolutions of the Growth and Development Summit that, among others, call on all of us to address the economic plight of young people.
We are also engaged in efforts aimed at building capacity among our youth in order to enable them to seize opportunities that our democracy brings.
These include the capacity building programme administered by the provincial Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment targeting young, women and disabled farmers.
Because of the enormity of the challenge of youth development, there is a need for the creation of partnerships.
In this regard we must spread the message that the private sector has a role to play in promoting youth development.
We must applaud those in the private sector, including the sponsors of this event, who have continued to partner government in its endeavour to address the plight of young people.
We must urge others to join this partnership for youth development. Such partnerships will go a long way towards restoring the dignity of our youth many of whom are grappling, on a daily basis, with the reality and indignity and of economic marginalisation.
Let us all join hands in pursuit of the objective of youth development. Let us build on the solid foundation we have laid since 1994. Let us learn and improve on our past experiences.
We are on course. Our goal is within reach. Let no one tell us anything to the contrary!
In Conclusion, I wish, on behalf of the provincial government, and indeed the people of the North West Province, to take this opportunity to thank the valued sponsors of this event.
A special word of thanks goes to Debis Fleet Management, the main sponsors of this event.
To our sponsors we wish to say that your contribution towards the success of this event is a worthy investment in the future of our country and province. We owe you a huge debt of gratitude.
I would also like to thank, the North West Provincial Youth Commission, its staff and Lakwela Communications for putting together this event.
My sincere gratitude also goes to Mr Squire Mahlangu and his team for adjudicating on the selection process.
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
28 November 2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molefe: Premier's Youth Awards
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER DR. POPO SIMON MOLEFE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2003/04 PREMIER'S YOUTH AWARDS, Mmabatho Convention Centre, 28 November 2003
Programme Director,
MECs,
Executive Mayors and Mayors present,
Leaders of the youth movement,
Valued sponsors of this event,
Honoured Guests,
Representatives of the media,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
What a great honour and privilege to welcome you once more to the Premier's Youth Awards for the year 2003.
This is truly a historic occasion as it is taking place towards the end of the first decade of freedom and democracy in our country. This is a decade at the beginning of which we were faced with the challenge of defining our identity as a nation.
While the wounds inflicted by our unhappy past were still fresh and painful to many of our people, we were determined not to become prisoners of our past. We were unrepentant in our resolve to build a prosperous, democratic and united society.
This we did because we knew very well that the majority of our people were not prepared to settle for anything less. They were prepared to build a future where our children, both black and white, would share equally the opportunities that the new democracy would bring.
It is this understanding that guided us as we began the task of reconstructing our country. We knew that the road ahead would not be easy or straightforward. Like a battlefield at the end of a bitter war, we knew that it would be filled with undetonated landmines, full of surprises. It kept our adrenalin high and our heartbeat ever more fast.
As we look back on the road we have travelled we are immediately engulfed by a sense of accomplishment. Like a triumphant army that has just returned from a protracted war, we are ready to claim our victories and immediately prepare for the challenges of the future.
Programme Director, one of the victories we are justified in claiming and celebrating is the massive progress we have made in empowering the youth of our country.
We have put in place a progressive policy and legislative framework in order to facilitate meaningful interaction between government and the youth of our country.
We have also afforded our young people an opportunity to advise their government on matters close to their hearts.
The Youth Commission, which is located in the Office of the Premier, continues to be a vital link between government and the youth. It has succeeded in locating youth development at the centre of the machinery of government.
In this regard let us take this opportunity to acknowledge the sterling work done by the previous Youth Commissions in pioneering youth development in the province. In particular we thank their Chairpersons: Moeti Moiloa, Kabelo Moepeng and Tshepo Belebese.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today in honour of those young men and women of our province, who have overcome all odds and proved their mettle in various fields. Not even the conditions of the underprivileged that many of them were subjected to could deter them from the pursuit of their dreams. This gathering also belongs to those young people who are, quietly and selflessly, making a difference in the lives of their communities. Like true patriots and volunteers for reconstruction and development, they have put their collective shoulder to the wheel in the ongoing effort to build a better province.
We have gathered here in honour of young people who are using their talents and entrepreneurial spirit to contribute towards the strategic goal of transforming the economic landscape of our province.
We are also here to salute those of our young people who have performed exceptionally well in the fields of arts and culture, information and communications technology and sciences.
In many respects, the young people we are honouring this evening are true ambassadors of our province. They are our pride, our role models, our heroes and heroines and indeed they are a fountain of inspiration to us all.
We congratulate them.
That so many of our young people are today able to excel in areas that were previously the exclusive domain of a few, is an indication of the correctness of our policies and interventions in terms of youth development.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life of our young people we have established the North West Youth Development Trust, whose purpose is to address the plight of young people particularly with regard to access to higher education.
We have also fostered the creation of strong relations between the North West Provincial Youth Commission and the National Youth Commission, the South African Youth Council as well as the Umsobomvu Youth Fund.
This we can say without fear of contradiction that our interventions aimed at promoting youth development are starting to bear fruits. For many young people, our country and province is now a better place than it was in 1994.
While our achievements are worth celebrating, they must not lull us into complacency and a false sense of comfort. We still have a long way to go.
One of the immediate challenges we face is to address the economic plight of our young people. Far too many of them still find themselves marginalized from the economic mainstream because of unemployment and lack of skills.
These young people are denied the opportunity to contribute to the reconstruction and development of their country - an issue close to their hearts.
In response to this challenge we as government have introduced the National Youth Service Programme as a vehicle to create employment for our youth.
We are also seized in the strategic task of providing skills to our youth through learnerships and internship programmes.
We have also prioritised the strengthening of the further education and training sector in order to create opportunities for our youth to acquire relevant skills.
In addition, we continue to create entrepreneurial opportunities for young people including youth cooperatives and collectives enterprises.
As a province we are committed to the implementation of the resolutions of the Growth and Development Summit that, among others, call on all of us to address the economic plight of young people.
We are also engaged in efforts aimed at building capacity among our youth in order to enable them to seize opportunities that our democracy brings.
These include the capacity building programme administered by the provincial Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment targeting young, women and disabled farmers.
Because of the enormity of the challenge of youth development, there is a need for the creation of partnerships.
In this regard we must spread the message that the private sector has a role to play in promoting youth development.
We must applaud those in the private sector, including the sponsors of this event, who have continued to partner government in its endeavour to address the plight of young people.
We must urge others to join this partnership for youth development. Such partnerships will go a long way towards restoring the dignity of our youth many of whom are grappling, on a daily basis, with the reality and indignity and of economic marginalisation.
Let us all join hands in pursuit of the objective of youth development. Let us build on the solid foundation we have laid since 1994. Let us learn and improve on our past experiences.
We are on course. Our goal is within reach. Let no one tell us anything to the contrary!
In Conclusion, I wish, on behalf of the provincial government, and indeed the people of the North West Province, to take this opportunity to thank the valued sponsors of this event.
A special word of thanks goes to Debis Fleet Management, the main sponsors of this event.
To our sponsors we wish to say that your contribution towards the success of this event is a worthy investment in the future of our country and province. We owe you a huge debt of gratitude.
I would also like to thank, the North West Provincial Youth Commission, its staff and Lakwela Communications for putting together this event.
My sincere gratitude also goes to Mr Squire Mahlangu and his team for adjudicating on the selection process.
I thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
28 November 2003
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