Date: 16/04/2007

Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government

Title: Peters: Youth Indaba

Keynote address by Northern Cape Premier Ms Dipuo Peters at the Youth Indaba

Introduction

It is significant that the youth of the Northern Cape assemble during the month of April to talk about issues facing youth and in particular how to chart a way forward towards youth development.

Not only will we commemorate our first-ever democratic elections for the 13th time on 27 April, but this month also saw the commemoration of the slaying of youth hero and stalwart freedom fighter Solomon Mahlangu. Mahlangu personifies the spirit of the youth of 1976.

Before his death on 6 April 1979, he asserted that his "blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom".

Whilst blood no longer remains the price to be paid by this generation, sacrifice and a fighting spirit links this generation of youth to all other youth before them.

Young people's main challenge today is to further their own development with the same vigour and spirit as young Solomon Mahlangu.

This indaba aims to give young people the tools towards ensuring the youth development.

The past decade of freedom has undoubtedly created many developmental opportunities for young people be it economic, social, educational or cultural.

However, according to various studies and statistics the majority of the young people are still vulnerable due to being marginalised, deprived and underdeveloped.

According to Census 2001 results, youth form a significant percentage of the South African population. Of the 44,5 million people in South Africa 18,1 million are youth between the ages 14 and 35, constituting 40,5% of the population.

The Northern Cape can be described as a youthful province where 57% of the population is younger than 30 years old.

In addition, Statistics South Africa's (Stats SA) census at schools conducted in 2001 informs policy implementation in a significant manner.

This survey was conducted in all nine provinces targeting 13 296 schools and learners between grades 3 to 12. A total of 3 146 242 learners completed questionnaires.

With regard to subject choices, learners between the grades 8 to 12 showed a distinct gender bias as follows: boys expressed a preference for mathematics and sciences while girls expressed preference for language literacy and communication. School environment defined as the presence of teachers, electricity, computers and library facilities and found that 85% of the schools had a mathematics teacher, 27% had computer and Library facilities while 16% had e-mail and Internet facilities.

For a significant number of the population, schooling is completed at the age of 17. Stats SA in its census found that in the main, youth met the expectations of being at school for the period they are supposed to be at school. That is 81,5% of the youth surveyed are in school. However, upon completion of their schooling, the expectation that high school graduates will be gainfully employed is not always fully met.

Therefore, the conclusion, based on these findings, is that young people are faced with two main challenges such as lack of skills and unemployment. Limited entrepreneurial opportunities for young people exacerbate this situation.

As per the 1998 Job Summit Agreement, all government departments were mandated to implement and monitor job creation projects.

In the Northern Cape until August 2001, 7 616 employment opportunities were created of which 26% (1 980) directly benefited the youth.

A large number of young people are still subjected to immense poverty which gives rise to poor living conditions, disintegration of families and community life, lack of skills and economic exclusion.

Youth are also negatively effected by substance abuse which leads to domestic violence, conflict with the law as well as risky behaviour.

In his State of the Nation address (SONA) to the joint sitting of Parliament on 3 February 2006, President Thabo Mbeki asserted that "In this year of the 30th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, we shall ensure that the focus on youth development is intensified in all spheres of government."

This essentially means that during 2007 and beyond, young people should be engaged in activities that seek to empower them whilst leveraging their energies and resourcefulness for the development of their communities at the same time empowering them with enabling tools to help them cope with the challenges of today.

In the past 13 years this government has development and strengthened policies and programmes to enhance the development of youth.

Some of these interventions include the National Youth Commission Act of 1996, the National Youth Development Policy Framework (2002-2007), the Skills Development Act of 1998 as well as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) 2003 and the National Youth Service (NYS) Framework of 2003.

Programmes include the NYS programme, The Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF), the Provincial Growth Development Strategy (PGDS) as well as the Accelerated and Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).

During the indaba you will get an opportunity to discuss the integration of services, economic opportunities for youth as well as moral rejuvenation.

Integration of youth services is crucial in seeking to address youth development in a more coordinated manner. This is however a collective process and requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.

Through co-ordination and integration government departments are able to plan collectively and render effective and efficient comprehensive youth services.

Furthermore, government departments are able to channel resources were they are needed at the right time to the right people.

As far as economic opportunities for the youth are concerned the Northern Cape government in the year 2004 adopted a PGDS with the aim of mainstreaming the economic growth of the province.

The PGDS also seeks to bring about more effective integration, co-ordination and alignment of activities of the three spheres of government so as to improve the development impact of government's programmes.

Young people must be pro-active and able to take the lead in ensuring that the youth of this province are at the forefront of realising advanced provincial economic growth.

Young people within the province are faced with a serious challenge of understanding their moral values and principles in relation to their culture and traditions. It is difficult to remain true to yourself when bombarded with messages from the media as well as peer pressure on what you should do be in sink with the world.

The indaba will create a platform for young people to debate moral issues affecting them.

You will also have an opportunity to make input into the moral regeneration programme so that it speaks to the strengthening of social cohesion and conditions of the youth in the province.

A strong moral grounding can provide the basis for healthy relationships where development can take place safely and opportunities for growth in multiple areas can be stimulated.

Closure

I whish you well in you deliberations and trust that you will have fruitful discussions.

I know that you will leave here more enriched, informed and capacitated with the necessary skills to activate development amongst your peers but also in your communities.

I would also like to make use of this opportunity to thank the various government departments who actively participated to make the indaba a reality. You are exemplary examples of government commitment towards integrated youth development.

I acknowledge the departments of health, safety and liaison, agriculture, tourism, environmental affairs, conservation and economic affairs, sport, arts and culture, finance and the office on status of person with disabilities, education and the Department of Transport Roads and Public Works as well as the host department, social services and population development.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
16 April 2007