Issued by: North West Communication Service
In a first for South Africa, the Youth Commission of the North West province today (Saturday) held a youth assembly at which a declaration was drawn up, setting out a course of action for the provincial government to follow on youth matters.
Attended by representatives of youth formations across the political spectrum, about 200 people met in the provincial legislature to debate key elements of the declaration.
Among the key elements of declaration were educational issues, unemployment among the youth, health and crime issues.
The declaration asked the provincial government of Mr Popo Molefe to, among others, embark on massive education and awareness drives on drug and substance abuse, child abuse, teenage pregnancies and rehabilitation and reintegration into society of youth offenders.
On education, the assembly was vocal on skills training, on the need for the government to introduce measures to ensure educated youth became productive members of society as well as better resources for schools and tertiary institutions.
The declaration effectively charts a youth policy for the North West provincial government. "This is a historic document as it is the first of its kind to be produced at provincial level," said Youth Commission chairperson Mr Moeiti Moiloa.
The document, he continued, contained issues that were close to the hearts of the youth in the North West.
"The issues that affect us, the youth, at our villages, institutions of learning, farms, the civil service, the security forces and in our communities are all of the above. It is an undeniable fact that youth have a role to play in our new found democracy," said Moiloa.
Mr Molefe is to respond to the declaration when he addresses celebrations in Vryburg tomorrow to mark the 20th anniversary of the June 16 uprisings in Soweto.
Contact: Baba Schalk: 082-5584-084