Before we debate, I would like to recognise the chairperson of the National Youth Commission, Ms Nkondlo, who is seated in the gallery. You are too short, we can't see you! That's the chairperson of the National Youth Commission. Thank you, Ms Nkondlo.
Chairperson, good afternoon everybody, hon members, compatriots, colleagues and comrades seated in the gallery, especially the Chairperson of the National Youth Commission.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am indeed honoured to present to this House the National Youth Development Agency Bill. When we talk about legislation that is meant to impact positively on the lives of our young people, we know that we are talking about our own future. Young people not only represent the future, but are the guardians of the painful legacy of our past.
The pivotal role played by young people in the fight against an unjust system is well recognised all over the world and by our government. As you know, thousands of young people sacrificed their lives, their youth and their education to take on a role that was well beyond their years. Their bravery and courage did much to change the course of our history. We are much indebted to these young men and women because their sacrifices made it possible for all of us to live in a South Africa that is democratic, nonracial and nonsexist.
However, the price these young people had to pay meant that they found themselves at the margins of socioeconomic development in our country. This unacceptable situation has not changed much in postdemocratic South Africa.
Our young citizens, as custodians of our future and guardians of our past, have not benefited much from the fruits of our democratic dispensation. As a result of the history of apartheid, they are confronted with serious challenges. These include, amongst other things, the lack of access to appropriate education; the lack of skills necessary to drive the economy; engagement in risky lifestyles characterised by alcohol, substance abuse and tobacco use; and communicable and noncommunicable diseases, as well as accidents and trauma.
I'm sure I would not be alone in saying that these grave circumstances cannot be condoned. Government firmly believes that our young people are our national assets. They constitute a considerable portion of our population, approximately 40% of the entire population, and are therefore worth investing in in terms of material resources and through capacitating them with relevant skills and training.
For us as government and along with our social partners, youth empowerment is a national priority on our state's developmental agenda. There needs to be concerted attention and interventions directed at our young citizens by all tiers of government, the business sector, labour and indeed civil society in general.
As such, since the advent of our constitutional democracy, government has, through national development strategies such as Gear and the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition, Jipsa, expressed its firm commitment to mitigate the historic marginalisation of youth through developing and enacting policies to advance youth development. These interventions gave rise to the development of the National Youth Commission Act and the National Youth Development Policy Framework of 2002-07.
Furthermore, the key institutions that were established to give practical effect to these policies include the National Youth Commission, provincial youth commissions and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, as well as civil society formations amalgamated under the SA Youth Council.
Recently, the National Youth Commission successfully advocated the establishment of youth focal points within national and provincial government departments. In addition, backed by the relevant legislative policies, the respective but complementary mandates of these institutions have sought to promote youth development that is holistic and comprehensive. In all, the focus has been to promote the talents and potential of young people; realise their role in fostering a cohesive nonracial, nonsexist democratic society; foster access to quality education, health, skills development and foster employment; and promote their basic human right to sustainable livelihoods.
Through the current institutional arrangements, we can say a lot has been achieved in the sphere of youth development in our country. However, many challenges have been identified in relation to the discrepancies between the mandates, strategic objectives and programmes of the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund.
Other hurdles have been the limitations of the National Youth Commission as a policymaking, lobbying and advocacy structure with insufficient financial and human capacity to implement its mandate and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund as an implementation organisation without a policy mandate. These dynamics have now produced unnecessary tension between the two institutions, to the detriment of the benefit to the very people they were set up to serve in the first instance, and that is the youth.
For this reason, I am heartened that the National Youth Development Agency Bill has been adopted by Parliament as of 21 November 2008. I am pleased also that prior to this Bill being accepted, there was wide consultation with relevant stakeholders.
I take this opportunity, therefore, to thank all our partners for facilitating this process. I would like to commend and applaud the Minister of Labour, the National Youth Commission, the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, the National Economic Development and Labour Council and others. The final outcome of this process will see to it that a single, focused agency is formed from the merger of the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund.
In actual fact, the National Youth Development Agency aims to consolidate the gains and leverage capacities of these two institutions. We could expect that this merger will sharpen the focus through customised, responsive and relevant youth development interventions. In the process we expect that it will reach out to young people in peri-urban and rural areas as a priority, focusing on the youth who are not in the mainstream of youth development.
I'm convinced that the Bill manages to bridge the gaps which exist, particularly with respect to the activities of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. It clearly sets out the principles of youth development in South Africa, taking into account the challenges of social and economic exclusion facing thousands of our young citizens. It recognises that youth outside the mainstream, in other words, those youths not at school and without gainful employment, require focused interventions to enhance their chances of participating in the labour market.
It is encouraging that the National Youth Development Agency will report to one executive authority, with Parliament playing an important role. The strategic programmes of the National Youth Development Agency Bill include, amongst other things, contact information and counselling services to build the social capital of youth, thus improving knowledge and access to human capital development and employment opportunities; the National Youth Service Programme to enhance employability through vocational training and work experience gained whilst striving for and providing essential services to our communities; entrepreneurial development support to increase access and participation, including sustainability of self-employment efforts of young people; and micro and small enterprise finance to improve access to affordable finance to start and grow micro and small enterprises.
In this context, product development and access to markets become absolutely critical. The other component is capacity-building to improve the capacity of organisations rendering essential services to youth, especially in the areas of vocational training, facilitation of community service, and business and development support. I believe these programmes will go a long way to ensure seamless, integrated sustainability and responsiveness to the demands and aspirations of young people in our country.
In closing, the youth of our country, including in particular the youth of 1976, were driven in their actions by hope for a brighter and more equitable South Africa. As a democratic government, we too are driven by the hope that this new institution, the National Youth Development Agency, will realise the unlimited potential of our young citizens and by so doing secure a brighter future for South Africa and indeed bring us a step closer to the realisation of long-term, high-impact youth development in our country. Thank you. [Applause.]
Ngiyabonga Sihlalo, ngibingelela amalungu kanye noNgqongqoshe osivakashele namuhla. Besengizwile ukuthi nalaphaya egalari akhona amalungu eKhomishani Yentsha.
UNgqongqoshe ubesekuthintile kancanyana ukuthi kuzoba yini umsebenzi wayo i- National Youth Development Agency. Washo nanokuthi ngesiNgisi uma ngingathi nje ukuhumusha wathi ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Ms N F MAZIBUKO: Thank you, Chairperson. Hon members and the Minister who is visiting us today, greetings to you all. I have also been told that there are members of the youth commission up there in the gallery.
The Minister has already highlighted what the functions of the National Youth Development Agency would be. He also said, if I can translate that into English ...]
... that the Bill will provide for the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency, aimed at creating and promoting co-ordination in youth development matters.
Uye wachaza uNgqongqoshe nanokuthi kuzoba yini umgomo wayo i-agency lena ikakhulukazi ... [The Minister also explained what the objectives of the agency would be, more especially ...]
... that they will also look at developing an integrated South African youth development plan and strategy.
Izobuka umgomo kanye nayo imisebenzi ye-agency. Kucaca kakhulu ukuthi sizobe sinanebhodi okuyilona elizobe liphethe umsebenzi wayo i-agency. Angizukugxila kakhulu kulokho-ke kepha kancanyana njena ngizothi ukungena enkulumeni yami. Kuyaye kuthiwe uzoyithola kanjani uhlezi ekhoneni! Lokhu kushiwo yintsha yanamuhla. Ibuye isho nokuthi angeke uyithole. Khona lapho futhi kukhona esinye esiphinde sisho sithi ixoxo nexoxo liyazigxumela, alikho eligxumela elinye kodwa thina njengaMalungu ePhalamende siyazama ukugxumela intsha ukuze nayo ikwazi ukuthi ifinyelele kumathuba angcono.
Kuyintokozo kimina namhlanje ukuthi ngethule phambi kweNdlu yoMkhandlu Kazwelonke Wezifundazwe umbiko mayelana nalo Mthethosivinywa ohlongoziwe weNational Youth Development Agency. Ngethemba ukuthi umbiko ogcwele ukhona laphaya kuma-ATC. Amalungu azozifundela wona kahle engajahe lutho ngoba lo mbiko ubhalwe ngesiNgisi angazi noma ubhaliwe yini nangesiBhunu.
Njengosihlalo wekomidi lesikhashana elalibekelwe ukucubungula lo Mthethosivivinywa we-agency, ngibonga amalungu aye abamba iqhaza kwaze kwaba semaphethelweni siwenza lo Mthethosivinywa. Ngithi kubona ningadinwa nangomuso nani seniyobatshela abazukulu benu ukuthi naphucula izimpilo zabo. Ngokusungula le Youth Deveopment Agency senza intsha ukuthi ikwazi ukuzigxumela.
Ukusungulwa kwale agency kusho ukuthi sizobe sivala uMnyango owawubhekene neKhomishani Yentsha kanye nesiKhwama soMsobomvu, konke lonke kuzoba uMnyango owodwa obhekene nezabasha.
Hhayi-ke malungu okuningi okumayelana nale agency njengoba besengishilo ukuthi uNgqongqoshe uke wathi ukukuthinta, mina ngizokushiya kancane ngingene kule ndaba ebalulukile okuvame ukuthi kaningi siyikhohlwe. NgesiNgisi-ke ngizothi ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[It will look at the objects as well as the functions of the agency. It is, therefore, obvious that we shall have a board that will be responsible for the functioning of the agency. I am not going to dwell on that much, but I shall simply focus on my speech. There is township slang that asks how one is going to get it when one is lazily sitting on the street corner! This is commonly said by today's youth. And the youth usually answer themselves by saying that one would not get it. Interestingly, there is another popular saying which says "every man for himself, no man for another", but we, as Members of Parliament, are trying to reach out to the youth so that they can also get better opportunities.
It is a great pleasure for me today to present before the National Council of Provinces the report concerning this proposed Bill, the National Youth Development Agency Bill. I hope that the full report is available in the ATCs. Members will have time to read it at their leisure as this report is written in English. I do not know if it is also available in Afrikaans.
As the chairperson of the ad hoc committee that was designated to consider this Bill, I thank the members who participated throughout the drafting of this Bill. I will forever be grateful to you and you will also have something to tell your grandchildren, namely that you made their lives better. By establishing this National Youth Development Agency, we are encouraging the youth to do things for themselves.
The formation of this agency means that both the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund will be merged into a single institution, the National Youth Development Agency that is responsible for youth matters.
Anyway, hon members, most of the things about this agency, as I have previously said, have been mentioned by the Minister, so I will leave them out for now and go deeply into this issue that we frequently forget. In English I would say ...]
... let's take you down memory lane or on the journey that has been travelled by the youth of this country.
Ngesintu siyayesithi geqa izindlebe zakho ulalele sikukhumbuze futhi sikutshele ngomlando wentsha yakuleli lizwe, ukuze kucace ukuthi yingani namuhla nani ningamalungu. Kubalulekile-ke ukuthi niphucule izimpilo zabo, nani ngoba namhlanje nihlezi lapha kule Ndlu yoMkhandlu nje kungenxa yayo intsha. Namhlanje sibuthene kule Ndlu yoMkhandlu simele izifundazwe zethu ngenxa yegazi lezinkulungwane ngezinkulungwane zabantu abasha bakuleli lizwe. Intsha eyayilwela ukuthi mina nawe sikhululeke emakhambandeleni engcindezelo. Namuhla sihlezi lapha eMkhandlwini ngenxa yentsha eyadela izimpilo zayo. Abanye namuhla abaziwa ukuthi bakuphi, abanye babhadla emajele. Phela i-CCB yayingabadlalisi kanye ne-SADF yayiwazonda kakhulu amaqabane.
Kepha intsha yathi ngeke yehlulwe ngamaBhunu. Intsha yazimisela, yabumbana, yawatshela amaBhunu ukuthi azoyikhotha imbenge yomile. Nangempela kwashunqa uthuli. Ngonyaka ka 1976, sonke siyazi ukuthi kwenzekani. Intsha eningi yagcwala imigwaqo, isuka laphaya eMorris Isaacson iholwa ngumufi uTsietsi Mashinini. Yayilwela imfundo ngoba ezemfundo zangaleso sikhathi zazikhiqiza kuphela ama-girl nama-boy awenzelwe abelungu. Sasifundiswa ukuthi sithi "Ja, Baas" noma sithi "Yebo Mesisi". Yingakho intsha yayifundiswa ulwimi lwesiBhunu, i-Afrikaans.
ISoweto yavutha kakhulu yaba ngamalangabi. Kwakuyinto encane nje ukulotha iBhunu, lalazi nalo ukuthi alingeni eSoweto. Konke lokhu kwakubangelwa yintukuthelo intsha eyayinayo. Abanye bethu bagcina ngaleso sikhathi ezikoleni kwase kufika nokuthi sithi: "pass one, pass all" kodwa futhi sasiphumelela kanjalo sonke.
Akugcinanga lapho. Nangeminyaka yawo-1980, intsha yaqhubeka yabamba iqhaza yanisela sona lesi sihlahla senkululeko. Beyithi uma kuthiwa azikhwela, intsha beyiqiniseka ukuthi awekho amagundane anyonyobayo aya emsebenzini. Uma kuthiwa yi-black Christmas, hawu labo abangenazo izindlebe bebewotha ubomvu futhi bephuziswa ne-sta-soft.
Siyazi sonke ukuthi amaBhunu abeyisa kangangokuthi ebiza omama bethu ngoJane laphaya emakhishini, bebiza obaba bethu ukuthi ngopikinini ngoba nakhu besebenza ezingadini. Bengakhulumi nakahle nabo ngenxa yokuthi abazali bethu bebengafundile bebekhulunyiswa isifanakalo. Kepha intsha yashaya phansi ngonyawo yathi izolwela ukuthi ithole imfundo engcono ukuze ikwazi ukuphucula izimpilo zayo.
Emva kwalokho intsha yazabalaza kakhulu. Yaphiwa amagama kwathiwa ngo-lost generation. [Ubuwelewele.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[In Zulu we say: scrape your ears clean and listen carefully while I remind you and tell you the history of the youth of this country. This will also give you a clear picture as to how you became Members of Parliament. It is therefore important for you to make the lives of the youth better because you are sitting here in the NCOP today because of them.
Today we are gathered here in this Council representing our provinces because of the blood that was shed by thousands and thousands of the youth of this country; the youth who fought for me and you to be emancipated from oppression. Today we are sitting here in the Council because of the youth that sacrificed their lives. Some of them have never been accounted for till today, some of them are languishing in prisons. Lest we forget, the Civil Co-operation Bureau, CCB, and the then South African Defence Force, SADF, showed no mercy to them and hated comrades a lot.
But the youth was defiant and said they would never be defeated by the Afrikaners. The youth meant business; they came together and told the Afrikaners straight away that they - the Afrikaners - would face the consequences. And they stamped their authority indeed. We all know what happened in 1976. Most of the youth bravely took to the streets, marching from the Morris Isaacson High School led by the late Tsietsi Mashinini. The youth were fighting for education because the education of the time was aimed at producing garden boys and kitchen girls for the whites. We were indoctrinated to say, "Ja, Baas" [Yes, Master] or "Yes, Madam". That is why the youth were taught Afrikaans.
Soweto was on fire. Setting an Afrikaner alight was not a big issue. The Afrikaners themselves also knew very well that they were not welcome in Soweto. And all this was caused by the anger and hatred of the youth. Sadly, some of us went to school for the last time during those times and the practice of "pass one, pass all" was introduced. And some of us made it through the "pass one, pass all" practice.
It did not end there. During the 1980s youth continued to participate in the struggle and nourished this tree of liberation. Each time there would be a bus boycott, the youth would ensure that there were no sell-outs sneaking out to work. When we had what we termed a black Christmas, those who did not want to listen faced the wrath of the people and they were even forced to drink Sta-soft.
We all know how contemptuous the Afrikaners were. They called our mothers - who worked for them in the kitchens - names such as Jane and our fathers "piccaninnies" because they worked for them as garden boys. They did not even talk properly with our parents because our parents were illiterate and they spoke improper Zulu, Fanakalo, with them. But the youth defied all the odds and said, never! The youth said that they would fight for a better education so that they could better their lives.
From that time the youth participated in the struggle more. They were then called names such as the lost generation. [Interjections.]]
Order! Hon Watson.
Chairperson, on a point of order: Is it parliamentary for the member to speak in derogatory language and use the podium to attack the Afrikaners of this country when addressing such a very important subject?
No, I don't think she was attacking anybody. She has been referring to the history of what happened to the young people during those days. I don't think that she's out of order.
Chair, she kept on referring to the Afrikaners. Now, can you please check Hansard if you have time.
I don't think that she's out of order, Mr Watson. The hon member may continue.
Hayi-ke Sihlalo ngiyabonga. Intsha yaqhubeka yaphiwa amagama kwathiwa ngo-lost generation, kwasuka lapho kwathiwa ingo-Boom Shaka beqanjwa emva kwaleliya qembu lomculo. Konke lokhu kungenxa yezigigaba zonke intsha edlule kuzo lapha eNingizimu Afrika. Kwintsha ekhule ngemuva kokhetho luka 1994, uhulumeni wentando yeningi wenza imithetho ukuze kuhlonyiswe iKhomishani Yentsha, kanye noMsobomvu ukuze amaqhinga amaningi eyayinawo iwasebenzise. Manje-ke sesiyihlomisa nge- National Youth Development Agency.
Okubi-ke nje ukuthi ngikhuluma ngaphambi kokuba laba abanye bamaqenjane bakhulume - ngoba phela siyabazi nathi laba a bayichamela uma ngabe imile, beyikhonkothe uma ihamba. Kungenjalo ngabe siyakwazi ukubatshela okuningi. Kodwa-ke uma sengiphetha, ubaba owayengumholi we-ANC, ubaba u O.R.Tambo washo lawa mazwi wathi: "A country that does not honour its youth does not deserve its future."
Masikhumbuze intsha ukuthi ikusasa ngelayo. Kubalulekile ukuthi ilivikele futhi ibambe iqhaza ekuvikeleni inkululeko esayithola kanzima lapha eNingizimu Afrika, ngemuva kweminyaka eminingi ogogo kanye nokhokho bethu bephila baze bayophumula bengazange babe nethuba lokuvota. Babengazi ukuthi kuvotwa kanjani nanokuthi kuyilungelo lokhu kwakuyilungelo labo.
Amahhovisi omasipala ahlala evuliwe mihla yonke le ukuze intsha ikwazi ukuzibhalisela. Laba abanomazisi bayanxuswa ukuthi basondele emahhovisi omasipala bayozibhalisa. Siyikhumbuze futhi intsha ukuthi ngomhla ziyi-8 kanye nomhla ziyi-9 kuFebhuwari 2009, izikhungo zokuvota zizobe zivuliwe ngakho-ke ayiye ngobuningi bayo iyobhalisa ukuze ikwazi ukuvota ngosuku lokhetho. Ngiyikhumbuze-ke intsha nanokuthi ukuvota yilungelo layo kanti futhi ukuthi ivotela bani kuyimfihlo yayo.
Kepha alikho icala uma ngiyikhuthaza intsha ukuthi ivotele inhlangano okuyiyona endala lapha eNingizimu Afrika, umbutho wobaba uLuthuli, oTambo, oDube, omama uLilian Ngoyi, omama uCharlotte Maxeke kanye nomama u-Ida Mntwana. Hhayi, phela kungashona ilanga uma ngingawabala onke amaqhawe namaqhawekazi omzabalazo.
Namuhla-ke siyazi sonke ukuthi usuholwa ngubani lo mbutho. Phela usuholwa nguyena uMsholozi! uNxamalala! Ngisho umbutho kaKhongolose hhayi nanoma yimuphi kepha ngisho i-ANC uma ngabe abantu bedideka. Uma intsha ihlezi mayikhuzele yazi ukuthi uKhongolose uyi-vision and the future of South Africa. Ngiyabonga niwudle kahle uKhisimusi. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Ms N F MAZIBUKO: Well, thank you, Chairperson. The youth continued to be called names such as the lost generation, after which they were called Boom Shaka, after that kwaito music group called Boom Shaka. And all this as a result of incidents that the youth experienced here in South Africa. For the youth growing up after 1994, the democratic government enacted laws to develop the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund so that the youth could use the many ideas that they had. And now, we are developing this National Youth Development Agency.
I am unfortunately speaking before these smaller parties, and we all know that they are notorious for urinating on a stationary vehicle and barking at it when it's moving. And if it was not for their notoriety, we would tell them many things, but anyway let me conclude by quoting Comrade O R Tambo who once said: "A country that does not honour its youth does not deserve its future."
Let us remind the youth that the future is theirs. It is therefore important that they protect it and participate in securing the freedom that we achieved through hard-earned struggle here in South Africa. It came after many years of struggle by our grandparents and forefathers who were laid to rest without achieving the right to vote. They did not know how to vote, neither were they aware that voting was their right.
The municipal offices are always open for the youth to come and register. Those who have identity documents are urged to go and register at the municipal offices. We also want to remind the youth that the voting stations will be open on 8 and 9 February 2009 for them to register. So they must go out in numbers to register to be able to vote when election day comes. I also want to remind them that it is their right to vote, but as to who they vote for, that remains confidential.
But there is no offence in encouraging them to vote for the oldest political party here in South Africa, the movement of Comrade Luthuli, Tambo, Dube, Comrade Lilian Ngoyi, Charlotte Maxeke and Comrade Ida Mntwana. Well, the list is endless and it could take me the whole day to name all the heroes and heroines of the struggle.
And today we all know who is leading this movement. It is led by Msholozi! Nxamalala himself! Here I am referring to the movement, the ANC, and not just any other movement but the ANC, just in case some people get confused. The youth must know and understand that the ANC is the vision and the future of South Africa. Thank you, and have a Merry Christmas.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members, colleagues, I don't normally take part in a debate if I have not been fully part of the deliberations and the meetings that preceded the tabling of a Bill.
Unfortunately this Bill came in a bit of a rush when it was introduced to us in the Eastern Cape on the evening of 4 November, barely three weeks ago. I've been convinced by my party spokesperson, the youthful Mr Swathe, that I should stand here and support this Bill, because of the very great importance of the Bill to the youth of our country.
Therefore, I apologise that the meetings that were held, were held at the same time that other important meetings of our select committees and other bodies took place, and I couldn't meet the obligations as I intended. But I've gone through the Bill, I've had a look at all the documentation on it, I know sufficient public hearings were held and I therefore stand here to actually support the Bill.
When referring to the Bill as such, may I remind the previous speaker that the National Youth Development Agency is an agency for all the youth, also for the Afrikaners, whom she seems to hate so fervently. She must never forget that we are one nation and we will be one nation, whether she likes it or not. [Interjections.] There is a place for everyone in this country. That is us: One future, one nation; one nation, one future.
I mentioned the speed with which the Bill was passed and I don't think it should go unnoticed that we are in such a hurry that we actually had to suspend three Rules of Parliament this morning to get it passed. I will say again that I am convinced that it's so important that we must pass the Bill before we go into recess. [Interjections.] I am not complaining, I am not even talking to you, so please keep quiet. [Laughter.] Some members just don't know their place in this establishment, and they never will. [Interjections.]
I have also found that this Bill was passed with so much speed that, while it collapses the Umsobomvu Fund and the National Youth Commission, I still found an advert for Umsobomvu on my table this morning. So maybe they should also catch up with the fact that when we pass this Bill today the fund actually will not exist anymore. I also see that we're in such a hurry that on the speakers' list we've already appointed the hon Mazibuko as the chairperson of the youth agency - congratulations on that appointment. I don't know who made it, but congratulations nonetheless. [Laughter.]
Thirdly, may I say to the hon Minister, who a couple of minutes ago said she was so pleased when Parliament passed the Bill on 21 November, I have news for you, Minister; the Bill will only be passed when this House passes it and not when the NA passed it on 21 November. In that light, I pledge my support and that of my party for the Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]
I think something is wrong on the speakers' list. Hon Mazibuko is not the chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency but, I think, of an ad hoc committee. Let that be corrected, please.
Chairperson, the IFP fully supports the decision to repeal the National Youth Commission Act and to disband the Umsobomvu Youth Fund. Both institutions did not perform well in their mandates, so dissolving them is a good political move. Most of the young people have not benefited much from these two institutions.
Education is the basis for development and achievement, and presently the type of education we have does not serve urban or rural youths who come from poor homes where they have no access to IT. It's through education also that the youth can learn about the prevention of various diseases, for example, HIV and TB, and about drug abuse and the promotion of health.
However, despite these serious shortcomings, a huge segment of the South African youth is extremely passionate and ready to get involved in issues of youth development and economic development in general. The agency must ensure that young people have enough information about the institution which is being proposed now. A good example of communicating with the youth existed in the erstwhile KwaZulu-Natal government, as the youth was at the forefront of development through the Bureau of Community Development and the Emandleni Youth Camp that trained youth from poor backgrounds and school dropouts in various skills. [Interjections.]
Experience has shown that consultation with young people is vital if they are to be encouraged to participate in initiatives that can benefit them, so policy formulation may not be a problem if the policy can be implemented.
As a matter of principle, the IFP and its youth section, the IFP Youth Brigade, have been advocating an institution that will go beyond just merging the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, but which would give fresh impetus to youth development and, above all, its implementation.
From as far back as 2003 the youth have been calling for a fully fledged and well-resourced youth Ministry to implement youth development programmes and take responsibility for all youth affairs. The youth need to be trusted and given a separate Ministry that will take charge of youth development. A bottom-up approach should have been used, outlining the agency's activities at local, provincial and national levels.
The IFP maintains that the success of this legislation will rest on how the proposed agency relates to young people and how it interacts with parents and their families - that is to say, the youth do not grow on trees. The contribution of the youth to the economy will also depend on how the entire government responds to the current economic crises, with an emphasis on education and developmental training in the whole country. The Bill is supported, but the comments made must be noted.
Hon Chairperson, whatever the hon Watson said does not deserve any engagement, precisely because I doubt if he read the submission of the DA youth during public hearings, and so forth. What he said here, to me, comes as a total departure from what the DA youth was arguing about, in relation to that. [Interjections.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister and comrades, for some time now in this august House, we as members have been grappling with the question of youth unemployment, development and poverty. Year in and year out, during the debates that normally mark the celebration of Youth Month and for a very long time, during the policy and Budget Vote debates, we have been raising the question of youth development. Consistently, in line with the ANC policy positions on the youth, we have been saying that, as a stratum and a pillar of our society, there is no way that we could guarantee the future of our country if we do not align government policies to respond to the needs of young people. Therefore, we are noting that today marks a historic development in the lives of young people in this country.
Previously, many programmes and institutions were created in order to respond to the needs of young people in our country - of course, we have intentions. We have come to realise that, without proper co-ordination and determination to implement these programmes, sometimes very little gets achieved.
For some time we have observed a very bad phenomenon crippling young people, in that youth development was always associated with a blatant display of wealth, elitism and a high level of consumerism. Young people were made to believe that in order for them to be seen as successful, they need to be posh with total and absolute disregard for society as opposed to the overall development and contribution to society in general.
The Bill before us today provides, albeit not totally, a departure from the disintegrated programmes of youth development. It presents hope for young people in the rural areas who, not by choice, were unable to access services aimed at improving their lives. It is through this piece of legislation that we are going to see young people taking control of their own destiny.
Of critical importance in the Bill is the fact that there is a shift from the selfish outlook that young people of our country were exposed to. Not only is the Bill going to put in place systems that will be seen as advocacy institutions for young people, but at last the young people of Groblershoop will have an opportunity to engage directly with institutions that will relate to their needs at a contact level, because what the Bill also seeks to do is to ensure that there is contact and that at provincial level, there is a level of co-ordination and interaction.
It is a well-known fact that a strategic sector within our society, our young people, have been at the receiving end of most of the ills in our society. It is a fact that most of the people who are being abused by ruthless farmers are young farmworkers. The majority of them are denied a quality education or entry to universities. As a result, those who are subjected to poverty and unemployment are working-class young people.
As much as the 15-year review document released by the President reported that there was a significant reduction in the prevalence of HIV infection amongst those younger than 20 years, we know that the majority who remain infected are young people in the rural areas who find it difficult to access health services. It is a fact that the majority of those who are denied access to programmes geared at agrarian reform are young people who live in the remote rural areas of our country.
At the moment we have noted turbulence in the world economy. Much as we are told that the South African economy is capable of absorbing the pressure that comes with this turbulence, equally, we are told that some key sectors such as the automobile, banking and mining sectors are going to shed some jobs. There is no doubt that the people or strata that are going to bear the brunt of all these developments are young people once more. Thus it is important that in all respects the youth development agency should position itself to play the strategic role of ensuring that the young people of this country are not neglected.
It is important that, as Parliament, we remind those who would be responsible for the implementation of the Bill not to tell us that it is only limited to policy advocacy. For a very long time in this august House we have been calling for the establishment and support of co-operatives, particularly for young people, whether it be by the Department of Agriculture through its agrarian reform programmes, the Department of Public Works through the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, or the youth service. One consistent response we keep getting is the fact that co- ops were not catered for by law, and therefore there was no basis for them to be implemented or budgeted for. Now we are going to have the development agency, which, according to the Bill that we are presenting today, identifies the development and the support of youth co-ops as one of its core businesses. It is through such legislation that we will be able to take forward the call by the president of the ANC Youth League when he recently called upon young people to respect the cultural and value systems we were brought up to believe in and understand.
In fact, his call to young people is a reaffirmation of the belief of the ANC in the Freedom Charter in its totality and not selectively. In fact, some people need to be told that the overall thrust of the Freedom Charter is respect for human dignity. Whether one refers to a clause that speaks on education, governance, respect for the rule of law, accessibility to land and wealth in our country, or peace and friendship and so forth, all make reference to respect for human dignity.
Therefore, it would be naive to select only two to make a point, claiming ownership of the Freedom Charter, hence the correctness of the president of the ANC Youth League to call upon young people to observe setho le botho [humaneness and kindness].
May I conclude by stating that, as the ANC, our aim is the creation of work and to fight against poverty. We aim to move beyond the foundations as laid down in the Freedom Charter and whatever documents we had before the Ready to Govern programme and the Reconstruction and Development Programme. It is during times like these that our target ... [Time expired.]
Hon member, your speaking time has expired. Just finish your sentence.
It is during times like these that our target of reducing poverty among young people requires us to set up our systems in such a way that these agencies live up to expectations and ensure that young people, and in particular young rural women, are catered for and are well protected against abuse, unemployment and poverty. I thank you. [Applause.]
Sihlalo, namalungu ahloniphekile ... [Greetings, Chairperson, as well as the hon members ...]
... as I stand to respond, I would like to thank all the hon members who participated in this historic debate that was on the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency. Thank you very much to all of you for supporting the Bill.
I would also like to thank all those who assisted us in ensuring that we are where we are - finalising this debate on the Bill. I am sure all of us are now very ready for its implementation.
Sihlalo wekomidi, ngiyabonga kakhulu ukuthi usikhumbuze umlando wethu womzabalazo ikakhulukazi ukusikhumbuza ngeqhaza elikade libanjwe abantu abasha emzabalazweni. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson of the committee, thank you very much for reminding us about the history of our political struggle, especially with regard to the role that was played by the youth in the struggle.]
Hon Watson, I noted your response to the chairperson. But I would like to say that this is our history - the reality of who we are, where we come from and what our aspirations are as a nation towards nationhood. I would also like to thank you for confirming our nationhood as South Africans. All of us would like to see a united nation. Thank you very much.
Allow me to also thank you for reminding me about parliamentary processes. Yes, the Bill is here before this House for concurrence. Thank you very much for reminding me. It was very kind of you.
Chairperson, let me just say a few words before I sit down. Ms Mchunu, of course it is true that for the National Youth Development Agency to succeed all social partners are expected to play a role: families, communities and all South Africans, especially those holding positions of power in parastatals, training institutions, religious organisations, organised labour and community development institutions, as well as those in the private sector. So, all of us are expected to play a role to ensure that this agency succeeds.
Just before I sit down, let me take this opportunity to thank the young people for having come out in their numbers to register to vote and to also remind them that there is still another opportunity that has been earmarked for registration. But they can still continue to register even before February.
I would like to make just two announcements. Firstly, from the 17th to the 19th of next month, we will hold a youth indaba, where we intend, yet again, to speak on the National Youth Policy. We will also profile the work that has been done by the National Youth Service. I am convinced that soon thereafter we will release the National Youth Policy for public comment so that we can work on a document that has been widely consulted upon as it is the nature of this government to do so in its operations.
Before I sit down, may I wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Don't drink and drive. Live healthy lifestyles. I hope to see you next year. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.