SA: Statement by InkuluFreeHeid, non-partisan youth-focused organisation, calls on all young people to join the Numsa solidarity march for youth jobs (18/03/2014)

18th March 2014

SA: Statement by InkuluFreeHeid, non-partisan youth-focused organisation, calls on all young people to join the Numsa solidarity march for youth jobs (18/03/2014)

Photo by: Bloomberg

 

InkuluFreeHeid supports Numsa’s “Day of Action for Youth Jobs” to highlight the youth unemployment crisis.
 
InkuluFreeHeid (IFH) is a non-partisan, youth-led organization that innovates engagement and ignites action on democratic, social and economic issues in South Africa. The organization’s Our Vote, Our Voice voting campaign has been endorsed by all major political parties, and is the only campaign of its kind to be endorsed by the IEC.
 
Youth unemployment in South Africa is a deepening crisis, stagnant at around 50% for almost a decade. We believe the Government has failed to offer any credible, far reaching solutions to this growing disaster, as evidenced by stagnating results. Millions of unemployed young people are time-and-time again expected to accept piecemeal solutions instead of comprehensive reforms in the labour market and in the education system.
 
We also believe the Government has failed to adequately consult young people – the very group that its policies affect – in dealing with the youth unemployment catastrophe. It appears the only organisations being consulted are the ones that universally agree with the Government regardless of which policies are advanced.
 
Until the Government takes youth voices seriously no matter their origin, and meaningfully addresses issues including labour-market entry and especially education, we cannot support haphazard approaches to solving the serious problems that confront our generation.
 
We therefore call on all young people, affiliated or independent, to support Numsa’s “Day of Action for Youth Jobs" to highlight the youth unemployment crisis.
 
At the same time, we also call on young people to engage their individual roles and responsibilities, through entrepreneurship, innovation and education, in helping to confront this crisis head-on.
 
This call by InkuluFreeHeid is strictly independent and is not in collaboration with any political party and although we believe protests and/or public demonstration are not the best solution, as a youth led organization, and as youth whom are affected by the status quo of youth unemployment in our country, believe it is necessary that as young people we take responsibility and unite behind issues which affects us all.

The march is taking place between Zoo Lake and NEDLAC (Rosebank), starting around 10am gathering from around 8am. For more details contact Castro Ngobese (NUMSA) on  0836275197.
 
“We call on young people across the political divide to unite against economic apartheid which continues to produce the most unequal society in the world.” – Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh
 
Young people must use this day as an opportunity to show the government that we will no longer remain silent on youth unemployment, which disproportionately affects young women .” – Ziyanda Kenya
 
"Young people can make a difference, and help alleviate youth unemployment by supporting a national culture of entrepreneurship and education, and ensuring the government that they elect implements workable solutions that make a real difference" - Mhlanganisi Madlongolwana