Issued by: Office of the Executive Deputy President Mr T. Mbeki
Following concerns arising from recent media reports regarding the proposal for National Youth Services, a delegation from the South African Graduate Development Association (SAGDA) met with representatives of the National Youth Commission to seek clarification and briefing on aspects of the proposal. Following detailed discussion, the following points were made and agreed:
i.) The South African Graduate Development Association supports the process set out in the National Youth Policy towards the development of a comprehensive National Youth Service proposal for South Africa;
ii.) SAGDA is also satisfied that the notion of a "graduate tax" as captured in the policy remains subject to a feasibility study as mandated by the policy and is not - as has been widely reported - a fait accompli;
iii.) The NYC and SAGDA both share the view of the 2nd National Youth Summit that National Youth Service will be of benefit to the whole county and youth in terms of both nation-building and skills development;
iv.) Both parties recognise and accept the principle that National Service has to be applicable to all youth, not particular sectors;
v.) Accordingly, both organisations are committed to working co-operatively towards achieving a proposal which will accommodate the interests of all youth sectors including graduates;
vi.) In this regard SAGDA recognises and appreciates that the National Youth Policy identifies graduates only insofar as it emphasises special contexts and circumstances which need to be taken into account with regard to this group's participation in National Service;
vii.) SAGDA is satisfied that the National Youth Policy and National Youth Service proposal are legitimate expressions of an exhaustive process of consultation with youth and youth-service organisations;
viii.) SAGDA and the NYC believe that National Youth Service will be of tremendous value to the majority of graduates, particularly in terms of providing practical, accredited experience in project-based work.
Both groups are committed to ongoing, closer contact as the process of drafting the technical proposal for National Service unfolds.
Joint statement issued by:
Vukile Nkabinde, Paul Johnson Director Acting CEO SAGDA NYC Ph 011 630 7896 Cell 082 771 8465
23 March 1998