For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa highlights country’s youth unemployment dilemma, Business sector mourns loss of Jabu Mabuza to Covid-19 complications and Malema says we won't comply with Ramaphosa's Covid-19 lockdown rules until we get vaccines

 

Ramaphosa highlights country’s youth unemployment dilemma

President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted that the youth of today face more challenges than the youth of 1976.

On June 16, 45 years ago, school pupils protested against the mandatory use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in their schools. However, the protest quickly turned violent when the apartheid government's police responded with live ammunition, leaving many school children dead.

Speaking virtually during a Youth Day commemoration, Ramaphosa lamented that, "nearly 64% of young people in South Africa are unemployed . . . something no country can afford”, adding that the economy was suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Business sector mourns loss of Jabu Mabuza to Covid-19 complications

The business sector, State-owned power utility Eskom and family members have paid tribute to Dr Jabu Mabuza, describing him as a man of integrity, courage and honesty.

Mabuza passed away on June 16 from Covid-19-related complications.

Busa president Sipho Pityana said Mabuza was a role model for all South Africans who aspire to make a difference.

He said he lifted himself up by his bootstraps, moving from being a successful small entrepreneur to becoming his predecessor as president of Business Unity South Africa, also serving as chairman of electricity utility Eskom in the aftermath of the State capture era.

Mabuza's family described him as a gallant fighter for the political and economic freedom of South Africans.

 

Malema says we won't comply with Ramaphosa's Covid-19 lockdown rules until we get vaccines

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said there was still a lot to be done before the youth in South Africa were "happy".

Malema said the youth were drowning in misery, faced by many challenges that the government was failing to tackle.

He added that lockdown level 3 restrictions would not give them jobs.

Malema said vaccine rollout and the opening of the country would give them jobs.

The party slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa for not being clear on the vaccination rollout programme, saying it was concerning that the government still had not prioritised the vaccination of essential workers.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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