Date: 16/06/2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Youth Day celebrations
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, TO NATIONAL YOUTH DAY RALLY, OLYMPIA STADIUM, Rustenburg, North West, 16 June 2004
"YOUTH CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY AND SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF DEMOCRACY!!"
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NATIONAL YOUTH DAY
16 June 1976 will always be remembered as the day, which defined the spirit and character of the youth of South Africa, where they took the might of apartheid force and triumphed against it.
It will always be celebrated as the day, which changed the course of history in South Africa. It united the struggles of the people of South Africa and propelled the struggle to new heights.
When 16 June, or National Youth Day is celebrated people by our people they remember and honour the sacrifices that were made by our youth who were killed and massacred by the apartheid ruthless armed forces. The majority of these youths went on to play an important role in the African National Congress armed wing uMkhonto we Sizwe as guerrillas.
Those who did not go to exile were to play a critical role in the building and strengthening the internal resistance to apartheid as members of democratic mass formations.
THE CLIMATE
The 28th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprisings, and the National Youth Day Celebrations on 16 June 2004, takes place within the background of South Africa having just celebrated its first decade of freedom and democracy.
The ten years of democracy celebrations have been further enhanced by the fact that South Africa has been declared the host country for the 2010 Soccer World Cup Tournament, the biggest sporting spectacle on planet earth. This event promises to afford the youth with many new opportunities especially in developing their skills and the business opportunities that will be accrued from this.
The 28th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising takes place under the theme of "Youth Celebrating Ten Years of Freedom and Seizing the Opportunities of Democracy!" this year's commemorative and celebratory activities afford all South Africans and the youth with an opportunity to reflect on the strides that our democratic government has made since the ushering in of the democratic dispensation in 27 April 1994.
This year's Youth Day Celebrations also seek to celebrate the achievements of the youth development in South Africa in its first decade of freedom and democracy. The day is both a celebration of the contribution that young people have made to the freedom whose fruits we are all beginning to enjoy, and also a time to promote programmes that expand opportunities for the youth to engage in shaping the development of our economy.
TANGIBLE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES IN EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH
The past ten years has seen the government accelerating the pace of delivery when it comes to youth development.
Among some of the tangible programmes that the government has embarked upon is the launching of the National Youth Policy Framework, which has been a milestone towards ensuring that there is integrated and holistic approach to youth development.
The National Youth Commission has also undertaken to contribute in the compilation of a register of all graduates in order to link them up with Umsobomvu, learnerships, and other schemes and institutions that would help them either to start their own businesses or to get employment. Young people will also be enabled to access finance, business opportunities and requisite education and training opportunities to start and sustain their own businesses.
The National Youth Service Programme will be launched in the near future. This programme aims to enlist a first intake of about 5 000 young people by the end of the year.
The NYC has developed The National Youth Economic Participation Strategy, which is aimed at promoting conditions for young people to become globally competitive and active stakeholders in developing their country, and their own development.
Since the Growth and Development Summit last year, there has been progress made around the issue of learnerships, where about 64 000 young people have been have been placed in learnerships which provides them with invaluable and positive work experience.
Coupled with this are the continuing discussions between government, business and National Youth Commission with Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), to increase the uptake of learners and improve the focus on the skills that are in short supply.
Therefore a lot of work is being done to develop youth potential, and to ensure that we prepare the correct skills base for our country in the future.
The sacrifices of the youth in the past should lead to the creation of a better life for all young people.
We urge the youth to take advantage and use the opportunities that are available, while also making suggestions to government on how to improve services to young people.
We must continue to strengthen the partnership between government and the youth, to build a better tomorrow.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
16 June 2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Youth Day celebrations
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, TO NATIONAL YOUTH DAY RALLY, OLYMPIA STADIUM, Rustenburg, North West, 16 June 2004
"YOUTH CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY AND SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF DEMOCRACY!!"
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NATIONAL YOUTH DAY
16 June 1976 will always be remembered as the day, which defined the spirit and character of the youth of South Africa, where they took the might of apartheid force and triumphed against it.
It will always be celebrated as the day, which changed the course of history in South Africa. It united the struggles of the people of South Africa and propelled the struggle to new heights.
When 16 June, or National Youth Day is celebrated people by our people they remember and honour the sacrifices that were made by our youth who were killed and massacred by the apartheid ruthless armed forces. The majority of these youths went on to play an important role in the African National Congress armed wing uMkhonto we Sizwe as guerrillas.
Those who did not go to exile were to play a critical role in the building and strengthening the internal resistance to apartheid as members of democratic mass formations.
THE CLIMATE
The 28th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprisings, and the National Youth Day Celebrations on 16 June 2004, takes place within the background of South Africa having just celebrated its first decade of freedom and democracy.
The ten years of democracy celebrations have been further enhanced by the fact that South Africa has been declared the host country for the 2010 Soccer World Cup Tournament, the biggest sporting spectacle on planet earth. This event promises to afford the youth with many new opportunities especially in developing their skills and the business opportunities that will be accrued from this.
The 28th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising takes place under the theme of "Youth Celebrating Ten Years of Freedom and Seizing the Opportunities of Democracy!" this year's commemorative and celebratory activities afford all South Africans and the youth with an opportunity to reflect on the strides that our democratic government has made since the ushering in of the democratic dispensation in 27 April 1994.
This year's Youth Day Celebrations also seek to celebrate the achievements of the youth development in South Africa in its first decade of freedom and democracy. The day is both a celebration of the contribution that young people have made to the freedom whose fruits we are all beginning to enjoy, and also a time to promote programmes that expand opportunities for the youth to engage in shaping the development of our economy.
TANGIBLE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES IN EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH
The past ten years has seen the government accelerating the pace of delivery when it comes to youth development.
Among some of the tangible programmes that the government has embarked upon is the launching of the National Youth Policy Framework, which has been a milestone towards ensuring that there is integrated and holistic approach to youth development.
The National Youth Commission has also undertaken to contribute in the compilation of a register of all graduates in order to link them up with Umsobomvu, learnerships, and other schemes and institutions that would help them either to start their own businesses or to get employment. Young people will also be enabled to access finance, business opportunities and requisite education and training opportunities to start and sustain their own businesses.
The National Youth Service Programme will be launched in the near future. This programme aims to enlist a first intake of about 5 000 young people by the end of the year.
The NYC has developed The National Youth Economic Participation Strategy, which is aimed at promoting conditions for young people to become globally competitive and active stakeholders in developing their country, and their own development.
Since the Growth and Development Summit last year, there has been progress made around the issue of learnerships, where about 64 000 young people have been have been placed in learnerships which provides them with invaluable and positive work experience.
Coupled with this are the continuing discussions between government, business and National Youth Commission with Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), to increase the uptake of learners and improve the focus on the skills that are in short supply.
Therefore a lot of work is being done to develop youth potential, and to ensure that we prepare the correct skills base for our country in the future.
The sacrifices of the youth in the past should lead to the creation of a better life for all young people.
We urge the youth to take advantage and use the opportunities that are available, while also making suggestions to government on how to improve services to young people.
We must continue to strengthen the partnership between government and the youth, to build a better tomorrow.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
16 June 2004
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