Programme Director
CEO of the National Lotteries Board - Mrs Charlotte Mampane,
Minister of Sports and Recreation - Mr Fikile Mbalula
Minister of Basic Education - Ms Angie Motshekga
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry - Mr Mzwandile Masina
MEC for Education in Gauteng - Mr Panyaza Lesufi
NYDA Deputy Executive Chairperson - Mr Kenny Morolong
Ms Karima Brown - Independent Media

Invited guests

Sibongile Mkhabela was one of the few young female leaders within the student movement of 1976. As a young activist she diligently served the student movement leading to her detention and imprisonment. Mrs Mkhabela today leads the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust as its CEO. 

When recently interviewed by SAFM, she said that South Africans liberated themselves, adding that there is no liberationmovement without the people. "If people don't remember that they freed themselves, they will always be looking for a Messiah", Mkhabela said.

In 2016 we will commemorate the 40th anniversary of June 16. As a nation, we will reflect on this historic day.  We will compare our past to our present. That is inevitable. In doing this we must remember that context matters. 

The message was clear on June 16, 1976 - "Young people do not matter. They are a threat.” There was no youth policy and even if there was a youth policy, black youth would certainly not feature in it. South Africa is a very different place today. We see young people as resources to the country. Our National Youth Policy 2020 characterises youth as assets whose power must be harnessed for the betterment of society. 

The NYP 2020 recognises that young people need a hand up and not a hand out. The policy is inclusive of all youth while giving priority to the most vulnerable. 

The brave, heroic activism of the youth of 1976 and the young lions of the 1980's paved the way for a youth voice. The voice of the youth has broken through.  Today, young people are consulted on key government policies and initiatives. Their voices matter and their views must be heard. 

Unacceptably high youth unemployment rates persist today.  In addressing the high levels of youth unemployment, we need innovative youth entrepreneurs and youth co-operatives. We need fresh ideas that must propel young people to find a niche in the economy and transform it. The levels of entrepreneurship uptake among South African youth are still far too low when you compare ourselves to our BRICS counterparts and other middle income developing countries. 

Out of ten young people walking into the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) offices, at least eight are looking for a job. Only two are interested in entrepreneurship. Young people have to be creators of jobs and not only seeking jobs. How do we stimulate entrepreneurship as one of the solutions to tackling youth unemployment?

Unlike Malala Yousefzai, we may not have the Taliban to contend with, but we have our own challenges around education.  We must make education fashionable. We have to improve the access to education. And at the same time we have to improve the quality of education. What should young people be studying? Are young people studying towards the qualifications that is needed by labour market? Are we persuading young people to study towards the needs and opportunities of a changing economy?

A common conclusion when comparing the youth of 1976 to 2015 is that today's youth are de-politicised and apathetic. 

They are characterised as a selfish generation that demands everything on a silver platter without ever having to work for it. But how do we explain the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign and other progressive initiatives across the country? Their youthful energy in challenging the powers that be over racist symbols is inspiring. It opens up opportunities for a constructive racial discourse. It opens up opportunities to redefine the future. Their brave actions have dispelled the notion that South Africa's youth are depoliticised and apathetic.

Young people should take advantage of this momentum. Let's take the transformation discourse beyond symbols. Let's lead this discourse towards the transformation of the economy and beyond. In our NYP 2020 consultations across the country, young people told us in no uncertain terms that they do not want a hand out. They do not want to be seen as a charity case. They want access to opportunities and they will make a success of it. They want a hand up. They want to be partners in their own development. 

Today, we are here to launch a new Independent Mediainitiative called the Young Independents. This is an innovative platform for young people to articulate their voices, share their perspectives and inspire South Africa. Through this platform, the country will be introduced to a wide array of thoughtful youth perspectives on a range of issues facing society. You may not like what they have to say. But give them a fair hearing. So watch this space. And congratulations to the Independent Media Group for developing this exciting initiative. 

Sibongile Mkhabela reminded us that there is no Messiah. That the people freed themselves. As young people, let us not abandon our own leadership in our pursuit for development and freedom. 

Thank you for inviting me. I look forward to participating in the panel discussion. 

I thank you.