Programme director
National Librarian and CEO of the National Library of South Africa, Professor Rocky Ralebipi-Simela
Young professionals and practitioners
Delegates
Government officials
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning

A visionary leader and Africa’s own son, Oliver Reginald Tambo once said, “A nation that does not invest in its youth is not worth its future”.

As the nation remembers the fallen young heroes and heroines of 16 June 1976 under the theme: “Youth Moving South Africa Forward”, the Department of Arts and Culture continues to educate the youth about historical important events as well as discussions on what should be done to move South Africa forward.

We have a common responsibility to always recall the bravery and sacrifices of the class of 76, that generation of young people, whom Oliver Tambo was inspired to describe as young lions, should serve as an inspiration to the youth of today to work hard to contribute to the solution of the challenges they and our nation confront.

What brought us here today forms part of an investment that government is making in our youth in the creative industry so that they can contribute towards shaping the future that will move South Africa forward.

The U40 World Forum represents a concrete step towards the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, by stimulating debates and ideas to better formulate cultural policies for cultural diversity throughout the world and offers youth the opportunity to participate in the international debate on Cultural Diversity.

The idea of creating a U40 Network was established by the German National Commission for UNESCO and is called the U40-World Forum. It is an independent international civil society network recognised by UNESCO as a network to promote participation of professionals and practitioners under the age of 40 in the global cultural policy sector.

It is incumbent on us as government that the international agreements that we sign and ratify are implemented to ensure that our youth participate in the world fora. The U40 World Forum was born out of the UN convention with the same aspirations that our youth have.

Each continent was mandated to have its own U40 chapter, then the regional chapter as well as the country chapter. Hence, we have converged here as government, young professionals and practitioners as well as youth in the creative industry to formulate the Interim Structure to prepare for the 2016 launch of the U40 South African Chapter which will coincide with the commemoration of the 40 years since June 16, 1976. Two people from each province will be selected to serve in this Interim Structure.  

We remain steadfast that this forum working with different youth formations in the country such as the Cultural and Creative Industry Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) will be used as a platform that would create an enabling environment for the youth under 40 in the creative industry to tackle the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. 

Notably, this year South Africa marks 60 years since the adoption of the Freedom Charter in Kliptown in 1955. The Freedom Charter declared amongst other things, that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people.

It is against this clause of the Freedom Charter that the Department of Arts and Culture is mandated to build a united and a cohesive nation. The department can only achieve this if the country’s resources which are young people are on the forefront of this social movement.

I wish you well in your deliberations and I am already looking forward to meet with all of you next year as we launch the U40 South Africa Chapter.

I thank you.