Issued by: The Office of the Executive Deputy President
25 September 1997
PRETORIA, 25 September - The National Youth Commission (NYC) today announced the formation of an inter-departmental government structure to ensure uniformity of approach in the efforts of various government departments to address and service youth issues.
The inaugural meeting of the NYC-initiated inter-departmental Committee on Youth Affairs was held in Pretoria this morning, having drawn senior representatives from a range of government departments with a view to ironing out a co-ordinated approach to youth development.
Speaking at a briefing immediately following, NYC Chairperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, said that the ground had now been laid in the heart of government for quality work in relation to youth and youth development. "Without doubt, the initiation of this inter-depart- mental structure at the highest levels of government by the National Youth Commission is a key aspect of ensuring that youth affairs are dealt with in a consistent, co-ordinated manner," she said.
The initiative falls within the clear mandate of the 1996 National Youth Commission Act requiting the NYC to "promote unifor- mity of approach by all organs of state ... to matters relating to, or involving, youth" and a further stipulation to "maintain close liaison with institutions, bodies of authorities similar to the Commission in order to foster common policies and practices and to promote co-operation".
Bhengu said the Inter-departmental Committee has been specifically established to:
i. draw all existing and planned government services, programmes, research and initiatives affecting youth in a range of ministeries and departments into a comprehensive, co-ordinated national framework;
ii. provide an authoritative forum for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating government programmes, initiatives and legislation affecting youth;
iii. facilitate collaborative programme planning, implementation and review across all relevant departments;
iv. reduce duplication of work and expenditure through cost sharing rationalisation of initiatives.
The latest move from the Youth Commission comes just as its Youth Policy 2000 national consultation process (in support of formulating South Africa's first national youth policy) enters the final round of youth summits in each of the nine provinces. Bhengu said that while the timing of the formation of the Inter-depart- mental Committee was jointly agreed upon by all stakeholders, it was nevertheless important that the Committee would be operational well- ahead of the final policy proposals. "In all likelihood, the minis- teries and government departments forming part of this Committee will ultimately be responsible for the successful implementation of the national youth policy, so it is of course to be welcomed that we would have begun working as a team long before that point already."
NYC Communications Director Paul Johnson, meanwhile, said the Commission had reached a point where its mandates were well on its way to being credibly achieved. "The National Youth Commission Act states very clearly what needs to be done for this Commission to be measured a success - and today's initiative represents yet another modest achievement in credibly meeting the goals of the Act." He indicated he was particularly pleased that the NYC's processes - and its challenges - had been charted in a transparent manner every step of the way. "Editorial discretion has not always ensured healthy pick-up of our news, but there can be few journalists who won't acknowledge that we've always been keen to share our plans with the media. This is a non-negotiable principle we will continue to subscribe to in the interests of the media, the public and, of course, the Commission itself."
For further comment, please contact NYC Communications Director, Paul Johnson on Cell 082 771 8465.