House Chairperson, hon members, guests in the gallery, let me greet you by saying, "Feel it; it is here! Bafana kaofela."
I would like to begin from the premise that comprehensive social transformation not only entails changing the material conditions of all our people, including the youth, for the better, but it is also ensuring that we build a nation on values of Ubuntu and true human solidarity.
It is the combination of these factors that give form and character to the national democratic society that we seek to build through the national democratic revolution. It is still our resolution to build a society based on the will of the people without regard for race, gender, belief, language, ethnicity or geographical location.
During this period of Youth Month, we must reaffirm our commitment to redressing poverty and inequality. The challenge faced by young people in the country is enormous. According to Statistics SA, the unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2010 increased by 0,9% to 25,2%. The youth unemployment rate is higher than the national average. The Ford Foundation has shown that approximately 2,8 million of people aged between 18 and 24 are unemployed.
We know that many young people do not complete high school, and those who do battle to get access to postmatric education. We need not forget the unemployment situation due to lack of skills. This shows that our country's socioeconomic problems are essentially centred on youth development.
Therefore, this calls for concerted actions aimed at youth development if, indeed, the future of our country is to be put on a sustainable and vibrant developmental trajectory. The historical role of the youth movement at the forefront of the liberation struggle has elevated the youth as a motive force for socioeconomic transformation.
Throughout different stages of our history, young people were at the forefront of the struggle against apartheid and socioeconomic exclusion. Issues of youth development were neither prioritised nor institutionalised during the pre-1994 period.
During that period, issues of youth development were left mainly to civil society and youth organisations, and never found expression within apartheid government structures or legislation policies and their programmes. The challenges of youth development over the last decade have resembled the extent to which the apartheid legacy sought to entrench itself in the socioeconomic and sociopolitical life of South Africans.
Resolving the challenges of youth development requires an approach anchored on integration, sustainability, responsiveness, and the demand and aspirations of the country's youth. The approach in this regard must not only be to confront current challenges of the national economy, but to confront the internal issues that hinder growth and development in a way that would meet the developmental needs of our people in general, and young people in particular.
We need to strengthen the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, in its work to promote participation of young people in the economy through targeted and integrated programmes. We acknowledge that the NYDA is committed in promoting access to quality education and skills to both youth in school and out of school through work and life skills programmes.
This has made significant progress in promoting entrepreneurship among people, targeting youth aged between 18 and 35 in helping them start new businesses or growing existing ones. Social transformation must also mean that young people drive activities to build their social capital, networks and strengthen the relationship that bind people and communities together.
These activities will propel young people to reach their full personal goals and develop their full capacity. This will ensure that young people are aware of themselves, their rights and their responsibilities. The youth are undoubtedly the custodians of the future of South Africa. Therefore, they have a responsibility to ensure that they are comprehensively prepared for the future and leadership roles.
It is noticeable that, through social transformation, youth development has assumed centre stage in our country since democracy began. However, there is an acknowledgement that, despite such general commitment towards youth development, the absence of institutional and programmatic capacity to address youth development has meant that the historic backlogs created by apartheid persist.
The strategic objective of the ANC continues to be the liberation of the majority of our people: working people; the urban and rural poor; youth; women; and people with physical challenges. The ANC is committed to developing ways that seek to better the lives of all, especially the rural youth through the elimination of hunger; illiteracy; improving the quality and access to education; health services; and the creation of jobs.
In doing so, we must ensure that ANC's young cadres must support government by aligning ANC efforts with the objectives of government for our common benefit. In all these things, we must highlight the role played by the ANC youth cadres as agencies and drivers of transformation.
Our attack on poverty must seek to empower young people to take themselves out of poverty while creating adequate social security nets to protect the most vulnerable of our youth.
We must commend the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, for her ground-breaking proposal that the country should create a national service where young people would gradually be absorbed into the training facilities and gain more skills in order to get opportunities for decent work. [Interjections.]
Order, order!
The ANC recognises the importance of the family as an institution. Steps must be taken to ensure that its centrality in advancing and preserving human solidarity must be promoted at all costs. The institution of the family is a unit of mutual support towards raising principled individuals of high moral standards and values; for therein lies a virtuous social transformation.
As a young woman, I re-emphasise the need to ensure that young women also obtain technical and scientific skills in the study of science and technology. South African women face specific challenges and, in particular, difficulties in society today.
The youth constitute a large portion of the South African population. We are a resourceful sector of society with diverse needs. Our government has to meet the consistent challenging needs of young people - the rural youth, urban youth, and youth with physical and other disabilities.
In conclusion, we as youth must be the centre of social transformation as one of the motive forces to ensure that, together, we build a national democratic and caring society. The Youth Month debate affords us the opportunity to reflect on the historical role of the youth within the social transformation discourse, its challenges and achievements.
Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot "uneducated" a person who has learnt to read; you cannot humiliate a person who feels proud; and you cannot oppress people who are not afraid anymore.
As young people, at all times and under all circumstances, we have the power to transform the quality of our lives. For social transformation creates space for effective social change. We are the future, and the future is ours. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, it is quite an honour and privilege to speak on this important topic. In nine days time, Africa and the world will be celebrating one of the most historic events in the form of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. We never in our wildest dreams thought that it would happen in Africa, and in South Africa.
This means that the 2010 Fifa World Cup is relevant in addressing the needs of the youth. However, let us focus on the reality on the ground. For a nation such as ours that has a rich diversity, the 2010 Fifa World Cup should be used to empower this generation. The youth should have been involved in all phases of the World Cup processes, from the decision- making, infrastructure development, skills development, and, most importantly, employment opportunities.
Let us frankly assess how the 2010 Fifa World Cup should have been used to create opportunities and address the needs of young people. Firstly, with regard to unemployment the shocking statistics reveal that South African youth contribute to 72% of unemployed people in this country. About 3,1 million youth are unemployed, 35% of the South African population is the youth and this translates to about 16,3 million people of whom 36% are jobless.
This is due to a lack of skills and poor education, and the question is: What has the Local Organising Committee, LOC, done to assist young people with learnerships or in-service training to empower young people in information technology, infrastructure and engineering? If the answer is no, then the World Cup means nothing to the South African youth.
Secondly, this concerns education whereby only 15% of the Grade 12 learners who pass are able to enter university; only 5% of them graduate from tertiary education; and most of them drop out. What has been done by the Fifa World Cup organisers to ensure that the education level of our people is improved and that they invest in our youth by offering them bursaries?
The World Cup has taken much of the time of learners and they will be two months behind schedule at school while busy focusing on the World Cup.
The third issue is that of crime. South Africa's youth experience violent crime on a daily basis. Murder and residential robberies have increased, which shows that there is a lot of antisocial behaviour among our youth. The youth incarceration levels have increased yearly. The World Cup should have been used to address these issues by giving the young people hope and skills to sustain themselves.
Fourthly, with regard to the issue of health, most of the young people have no access to health care. The growing number of teenage pregnancies, high levels of HIV/Aids and drug and alcohol abuse among our youth is a source of concern.
Most young people in South Africa experience physical and psychological trauma due to gender-based violence and sexual abuse. Awareness campaigns are urgently needed and the World Cup should have been used as the platform to communicate with the youth about these issues.
Lastly, rural youth development is another issue which the World Cup should be addressing in order to breach the growing gap between the urban and rural youth. This event is inaccessible to the rural youth with most of them having no means to enjoy the World Cup. The tickets are too expensive and even the Bafana Bafana T-shirts are too costly; they cannot afford them.
They still hope that one day they might be rescued from their plight and do not even have a sense of feeling that the World Cup is here in their country. The National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, is inaccessible to the rural youth. While on a mobilisation visit of the World Cup in Lichtenburg in the North West, last week ... [Interjections.]
Order, order!
... we found that the World Cup is even unknown to them, with community members saying, "We hope that after the World Cup maybe there will be improvements in our small village; maybe the eyes of our officials will now be opened to poverty in the rural South Africa."
This means that the people in rural areas don't feel it; they feel left out. One youth member even said, "I do not know anything about the World Cup; I don't even know the players. It is not often that anything happens. It only happens in town. [Interjections.]
Hon member, can you take your seat for a moment. Hon members, please, you might not like what the hon member is saying, but you can also be orderly, please. Let other members hear what the hon member is saying.
The LOC of the South African Football Association, Safa, together with the government should ensure that this World Cup leaves behind a lasting legacy for young South Africans by developing soccer academies in every rural area and maintaining the existing urban structures. This is possible for the youth through the proceeds from this World Cup, rather than sharing the proceeds amongst themselves.
In conclusion, we welcome this 2010 Fifa World Cup and we are 100% behind Bafana Bafana. We wish them well and the sky is the limit for them. If they put everything into it, they can make it. Feel it, it's here! Ke nako! Let's celebrate African humanity. I thank you.
I rise on a point of order, Chair, if I may. There are members there, who are gesticulating, pulling faces and acting like three- year-olds. This is the National Assembly, I would ask you to please attempt to instruct the ANC members on how to behave in the House.
I think this is what I've been trying to say, hon member, that we can dislike things that other members are saying, but we can also be orderly. Please, let us be orderly.
House Chairperson and hon members. Let me start by saying, "Feel it, it is here, South Africa".
This debate takes place 34 years after the 1976 Soweto uprisings which was one of the most political activities that had been seen in this country. These uprisings were led by young people who proved beyond doubt that the young person can be a dedicated builder of a society, can achieve that and can give all his life to achieve the needs of the society.
We depart from this debate today by saying that the announcement of the hosting for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, which took place in Zurich in May 2004, was awaited with bated bread breath by all South Africans. When Fifa President Sepp Blatter finally announced that for the first time in history this event will be held on African soil, in South Africa to be exact, we all ululated in joy as we were predicting that it was a rare opportunity that would bring about change in many ways to South Africans than ever expected. Every young person in this country across the urban and rural divide started to pent their respective goals to be achieved taking advantage of this big event ever to come to their land. There were dreams for some to do unique artwork which would get tourists to empty their pockets; others were banking on exposure for their poorly marketed tourist attractions which would make better profits if tourists visited them.
Amongst those who had hopes and wishes were the unemployed young graduates ranging from engineers, architects, artisans and many more, who were counting on this event to create sustainable jobs.
On 10 May 2004, the Deputy President of South Africa, hon Jacob Zuma, addressing a 2010 World Cup bid farewell banquet, said:
The benefits of this project to our nation to be so enormous that would take the whole evening outlining what contribution does hosting the World Cup mean and what would it make of our programme to alleviate poverty, creating jobs and generally in social upliftment.
He further said:
The economic spin-offs of this tournament for Southern African Development Community, SADC, region are enormous as well; and it will fit in with our objectives of working for a sustainable development, not only of our country but for our continent as well. Our victory is, therefore, a victory of our sister countries in this region as well.
Indeed, Africa is celebrating this big event taking place in its shores but the critical question that must be asked first is, "Are young people in this country having anything to celebrate or to show for South Africa hosting this event? This event, through its own legacy, must be able to respond to this critical question confronting the young people of this country.
In our attempt to respond to this question, we must be able to understand that the legacy of this event cannot just be limited to infrastructural development. When bidding for this event, however, the creation of jobs, alleviation of poverty, etc, were the anticipated benefits.
We believe that the conditions of young people in this country in just nine days before the kick-off are as they were six years ago when we were still bidding to host this event. This clearly demonstrates how we treat matters concerning young people's interest as secondary and this is a serious indictment to all of us in this august House.
This World Cup event was an amazing opportunity to expose our young people's talent, skills and uniqueness but, again, little has been done in this regard. Our young people remain at the periphery in as far as benefiting from this event is concerned.
The fanfare that characterised the hosting of this event by South Africa has been short-lived for our young people. Many of our youth in rural areas, when on 11 June match starts between South Africa and Mexico, will not have anything to show for it because no mechanisms will have been devised to ensure that this event is enjoyed by all South African young people from host cities and non-hosting cities across the country.
This is despite the fact that sport and recreation offer a sense of hope and can make dreams a reality in many instances. Our rural youth continue to yearn for sporting facilities in order to fulfil their dreams of playing at the professional level, but their last hope that having the 2010 Fifa World Cup hosted in South Africa would change the situation for the better has, yet, to yield results as awaited.
It is our view that sport has deep roots within South Africa, especially within disadvantaged communities where violence and crime are most evident. It is therefore essential for South Africa to wake up and see this critical link and indeed make use of it. Sport has the ability to join the separate parts of this nation and get rid of social evils that are destroying our young people and the legacy that we have inherited. It is in this regard that we must remember how the 1996 World Cup united South African people beyond party and racial lines.
Sport possesses a special power and the capacity to change a person's life by improving psychological and physical wellbeing. It offers a sense of belonging and connectedness to orphans, street children; it teaches teamwork, sharing, discipline and respect for playing by the rules. Sport is, indeed, a universal language that can help bridge the divides and promote core values necessary for lasting peace in our society.
On the playing field, cultural differences and political agendas dissolve and melt away. This is the most magical thing that sport can do in our society. Sport is therefore a tool with which we can create unity and transcend racial barriers, as was beautifully depicted on last Saturday when the Blue Bulls were playing at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. It was something that was making history for the first time in this country.
Through hosting this World Cup, our government should adopt a new strategy to advance youth development through sport as this will deal with a lot of the socioeconomic conditions that are faced by young people in this country. At the centre of this agenda should be the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA, which has a duty to advocate this.
We wish all South African players in the Bafana Bafana team good luck and we are fully behind them.
Chairperson, the World Cup soccer tournament is an opportunity for successful teams of various nations of the world to display the talent of their youth. The tournament has undoubtedly become one of the premier opportunities for various nations of the world to display their national unity, cohesion and pride.
The 2010 World Cup takes place in our country, and is the first of its kind on the continent of Africa. This is a moment of great significance and, indeed, it instils in all of us a great sense of pride and contentment to be able to host the world-renowned tournament.
Successful nations invest a lot in their youth because they realise that the youth are the future of every nation. They not only do so in the area of sport, but they do so holistically in the overall development of their youth; be it in education, skills development and training or health. Therefore it is important to contextualise the standard of performance of our national team, Bafana Bafana, as it somehow truly reflects our nation's contribution to the development of our youth.
Naheng ena re theile National Youth Development Agency ho etella pele matsete a naha ya rona ntshetsopeleng e phethahetseng ya batjha Aforika Borwa. Se re ngongorehisang haholo ke hore ha re eso utlwe kapa ho bona mananeo afe kapa afe a thakgotsweng ke National Youth Development Agency a reretsweng ho sebetsa le Fifa ho thakgola mananeo a ntshetsopele ya batjha. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[In this country we established the National Youth Development Agency to spearhead our country's efforts in the total development of the youth of South Africa. What is of concern to us is the fact that we have not heard or seen any programmes which have been started by the National Youth Development Agency that have been intended to be used by Fifa in order to develop the youth.]
This Parliament appropriates huge chunks of money for education and the majority of the beneficiaries in this regard are the youth. Apart from this, there are other programmes across government from which the youth benefit.
While we recognise this reality, the fact is that there is still a lot to do to enable our youth, who for no fault of their own, were bypassed by development and now need to catch up. We need to be mindful of the statistical reality that the majority of the citizens of this country are both women and young people. These two segments of our society are the most marginalised. Statistics that have been recently quoted in the Business Day are frightening. These statistics reflect that about 2,5 million youth aged 18 to 24 are neither working nor in any kind of education and training - most have dropped out of school early; only 46% of them remained in school long enough to write matric; and only 60% passed. South Africa's rate of unemployment is estimated at 26%, and the youth make up 70% of this figure.
The IFP feels that it is, therefore, important to look at what impact the 2010 World Cup will have on youth development, and whether it will deliver on the hopes and dreams of the millions of unemployed young people of this country.
Youth development remains one of the complex challenges facing democratic South Africa. Sixteen years after the transition to democracy, it is young people who are most severely affected by negative socioeconomic factors such as HIV and Aids, the high level of unemployment, poverty, unplanned pregnancies and a lack of participation in political and economic development processes.
Mothating ona, ka Mohope wa Lefatshe le kamora wona, mekga ya bohanyetsi le mekgatlo ya batjha e na le monyetla o fetang yohle e kileng ya ba teng, wa ho sebetsa mmoho ho rarolla diphephetso tseo batjha ba tobaneng le tsona naheng ya rona. Ho hlokeha sebete le boitshepo ho ntshetsa pele sepheo sa ho netefatsa hore batjha ba naha ena ba nka seabo ka ho lekana moruong le dipolotiking. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[At this juncture, during and after the World Cup, the opposition and youth organisations have an opportunity more than ever before to work together to bring solutions to the challenges facing the youth in our country. It requires courage and confidence to carry out the purpose of ensuring that the youth of this country take part on equal terms in the economy and in politics.]
Therefore let us recognise that even though there will be some benefit for our youth through the hosting of this soccer extravaganza, we must use this opportunity to utilise the power of football to build a brighter future for our youth beyond the 2010 World Cup.
Ha ke diela dikgala, IFP e lakaletsa Bafana Bafana katleho. Re kgothalletsa batjha ho tswa ka makgalo ho ya tshehetsa dipapadi tsena tsa bolo tsa pele tsa mofuta wa tsona. Dikgomo! (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[As I conclude, the IFP wishes Bafana Bafana good luck. We encourage the youth to go out in their numbers to support this soccer tournament which is the first World Cup in Africa. Thank you.]
Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon Members of the NA and distinguished guests, the pleasure will be mine to take this House through the legacy of the youth in bringing about a democratic South Africa.
I would firstly mention that 66 years ago, Anton Lembede, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, A P Mda, Mxolisi Majombozi, and many others were profoundly aware of the challenges facing the youth of their generation. They then agreed to form the African National Congress Youth League, ANCYL, because they were a generation that was cognisant of the interconnectedness between the liberation and development of South Africa and that of the African continent.
They believed that Africans would be freed only by their own efforts, and they aimed to involve the masses of our people in militant struggles. There was the assurance that the African youth would not allow the struggles and sacrifices of their forefathers to perish. They said it then and we are saying it now that we will continue from where they left off in bringing about a thorough emancipation of our people.
The year 1976 was even more historic, as the youth of our country correctly identified the challenges and tasks they had to confront. Today, 34 years later, our youth are once again faced with the obligation of identifying the challenges and tasks they confront. As much as it was a reality that the youth of 1976 had to go into exile to train as soldiers of liberation, it should then dawn on us today to use our talents to mobilise and campaign for the advancement and development of our country and the African continent as a whole.
The nation expects the youth of today to follow in the footsteps of the 1976 youth and become agents of change in the continuing struggle to achieve the goal of a better life for all our people.
We have the common responsibility to always recall the events of 1976, so that the bravery and sacrifices of that generation of young people should serve as an inspiration to the present day youth to work hard in contributing to the solution of the challenges they and our nation confront.
Today we are hosting the Fifa World Cup because of great sacrifices. We are free today because of the blood that had to be spilled in our black townships. This freedom did not come cheap and there was no room for amagwala [cowards]. It is on these grounds that I make this clarion call to all young people to defend and guard this freedom, which has, in turn, brought about many opportunities for them in the democratic order. Had it not been for the efforts of our movement, the ANC, hosting the Fifa World Cup would be a phantom dream.
The youth of 1944 helped to mobilise and unite the young people of our country, behind the perspective that the goal of national unity must be the guiding ideal of every young African's life. And our youth must rally behind the ANC, which is destined for a great purpose and mission.
The youth of 1976 helped to mobilise and unite the youth of our country to become part of the disciplined vanguard forces of our revolution, under the leadership of the ANC. They were serving as dedicated and gallant fighters in the forward ranks of our revolutionary struggle. This happened while continuously improving their level of competence in all fields in which they were involved, whether politically, militarily, academically or administratively.
The legacy of freedom bestowed on our people by the sacrifices of the youth of 1944 and 1976, has placed additional responsibility on the youth of today. This was to defend and help entrench the value system that inspired the earlier generations of our youth. That value system was based on a set of moral injunctions that prescribed that the revolutionary youth must be inspired by one objective and one objective only. The objective was to serve the people of South Africa, with no expectation in terms of personal wealth, power, position or prestige.
The achievement of political democracy in 1984 was the nexus for the militant youth of the predemocratic era. The adoption of the democratic dispensation in 1994 brought to the fore a different set of new challenges for the youth in general. The challenge, from a political perspective, was to actively participate in the newly established political and economic structures and to make a meaningful contribution towards the future of the country.
It is now 16 years into our democracy and the youth continue to face challenges. Participation in national debates, policy formulation and political structures brings with it the need to sharpen skills and capacity on a continuous basis. The dialectics that need to be understood is that state power, as an instrument for effecting change, has huge potential for the youth, whilst at the same time it has limitations.
It is therefore an undisputed truth that the youth of South Africa contributed in liberating the people of South Africa from the system of colonialism and apartheid. Given this contribution in deepening and advancing constitutional democracy in our country, youth development has to be central in the developmental agenda of the state. The impact of this should, in effect, generate the South African youth to participate in deepening democracy and shaping the direction of our country.
The youth must invigorate their interaction to build a strong political consciousness grounded on the principles of our democracy. They should always be willing to shoulder more responsibilities in dealing with the complexities of practical political problems. These responsibilities require the kind of youth who are definitive and who understand that the future lies in their hands. This requires new thinking, perspectives and strategic ways to be formulated and carried out with skill and dexterity.
The ANCYL made its mark at the 2003 Growth and Development Summit through its submission that the different social partners, that is, government, business and labour, are acutely aware that the problem of unemployment is essentially a youth problem. Like their forebears, the youth of today take seriously the words of Moses Kotane, when he said, and I quote:
The future will be what you make of it.
The youth of South Africa are born against a background whereby the previous generation was instrumental in shaping the political landscape of this country. Previous generations were the foot soldiers of the armed struggle. Our youth, therefore, have a primary obligation to defend our democracy that brought about this World Cup. As this manifests itself, the youth must set the agenda in the national public discourse, as they remain the opinion-makers who must influence the direction of our national development and growth.
The design of democracy is, however, not enough if citizens only engage periodically with the diverse processes of democracy. If young people feel that politicians do not engage with them on challenges that they face, they will not participate actively in the democratic process.
We must, therefore, in this national youth month, pledge that we will mobilise the youth of our country to focus on the task of developing and building the nation. Also, we must prepare the conditions for our youth to participate enthusiastically in democratic processes, informed by the knowledge that their hopes rest in the democratic order.
This call was endorsed by President Zuma, when he said at the launch of the National Youth development Agency, NYDA, a year ago, that he expects the NYDA to, amongst other things, assist in promoting the youth with participating in democratic processes, community and civic decision-making and development at all levels.
The youth are well positioned to play a significant role in further consolidating democratic gains associated with nation-building. We know, as a matter of fact, that only 60% of the South African population ranges between the ages of 14 and 35 years, which in itself clearly explains why the youth in this country should remain central in the national efforts to consolidate democratic gains and advance the developmental agenda of our state.
In an article published in Inkundla ya Bantu, the first President of the ANCYL, Anton Lembede, said, and I quote: We need young men and women of high moral stamina and integrity, of courage and vision. In short, we need warriors. This means that we have to develop a new type of youth, the type of youth that will achieve the national liberation of the African people.
The ANC's policy position is buttressed by the notion of ensuring a better life for all, even when it comes to youth development, as it tends to be more sympathetic towards the marginalised youth.
The ANC policy regarding youth and youth development is the one based on basic values of democracy, nonracialism, respect for human dignity, nonsexism and tolerance.
Young people by their very nature are part of the society that absorbs and transforms cultural values from one generation to another. The youth of 1976 earned the honoured title of the "Young Lions" because of what they did to contribute to the liberation of the nation from apartheid and white minority rule.
The youth of 2010 must again earn this honoured title "Young Lions" because of what they are doing to rid the nation of the legacy of apartheid. This is also to end the scourge of poverty and underdevelopment, which continue to imprison many of our fellow citizens, both young and old.
We remain resolute, determined and committed, like the youth that came before us, to do everything possible to advance the struggle to achieve a better life for all.
We must look to the visionary youth of 1994 and those of successive generations for inspiration and guidance, as we ready ourselves to host our visitors during the Fifa World Cup. We may not need to employ the same methods as those of previous generations of youth, but we can draw on the rich tradition of activism, innovation, organisation and intellectual engagement that they embodied.
His Excellency, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said, and I quote:
We should seek to emulate in our actions their determination, steadfast commitment, selflessness, humility and readiness to sacrifice.
As we recall the momentous achievements of the youth of this country, we are challenged to define the contribution that this generation of youth will make to advance the cause of our people towards a better life for all. We are challenged to examine what it is that history asks of this generation of young people and to demonstrate how this generation will respond.
We salute those among the youth, who have played a leading role over the decades. Underneath this land lie their bones, their blood still smells fresh and their spirit lives with us forever. They have made it possible for us to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Good luck Bafana Bafana! I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson and hon members, as I said in this House yesterday, the surest measure of a successful state are the health and happiness of its children. As we celebrate Youth Month, it is most appropriate that we will also be showcasing our country to the world in a month-long festival of soccer. The skill and youthful exuberance of soccer is a demonstration of the energy and vibrancy of the youth.
We need to ask ourselves deep and far-reaching questions about how we approach the question of the youth in all policy matters. The suggestion, for instance, that national service might be helpful to the youth has merit. However it is incorrect to claim that national service would give the youth the discipline to refrain from participating and leading community protests over service delivery.
We need to recognise that the youth have a legitimate claim to challenging the status quo, and that vast numbers of them are loitering in the streets in search of meaningful employment. We also need to understand that the entire democratic project loses its legitimacy if it does not provide the next generation with hope. The South African youth are coming into their adulthood at a time of freedom. They are born at a time when they can look upon the moral victory of democracy over tyranny. They are on the cusp of taking custody of the legacy of such giants as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Few generations can claim to have been born into a time of such opportunity. It is our duty, as the previous generation, to help them nurture and grow this country.
The youth grasp their place in history much better than many of us realise. Their frustration at being locked out of the economic and social life of society stems from the realisation that there is much they can and must achieve.
During this Youth Month we should collectively focus our attention on unlocking and throwing wide open the doors of opportunity so that the energy of the youth can carry our nation to a better and more prosperous future. Ke a leboga. [Thank you.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon members of the House, I think today, 2 June, is a wonderful day. In fact, it is the day on which young students in China protested for the emergence of democracy in their land. Ordinary people in that land, about a hundred thousands ordinary inhabitants of China, felt it was important to rally behind the cause of democracy, and they stood at Tiananmen Square on that day, resolutely blocking a force of ten thousand men carrying guns, some driving tanks. Those people were inspired by the spirit of freedom and democracy. As I speak today, the young workers of China are beginning, under the nose of unions that are sponsored by the State, to galvanise themselves to stand up for human rights for the workers, and that is the hope we must talk about as young people.
Manana spoke so well and mentioned great luminaries of our own struggle, people who believed in inspiration, who did not become pessimistic because at that point it seemed so impossible that we could have freedom. They formed the ANC; they radicalised the ANC in 1949. Who are we then today, that when our role is so small - just to deepen democracy, just to defend democracy - to say the World Cup does not bring us anything? In fact, Bafana Bafana is a team of young people; we are the beneficiaries.
The roads that have been constructed are going to be enjoyed by our nation. The stadia will never go with the World Cup; they will remain with our people. Any enlightened inhabitant of our society must come to a level of recognising that. I think I would agree with hon Mda. She spoke so well about the World Cup today, and I think she must advise hon Mokgalapa, who is utilising just a single media snippet to suggest that South Africans are not familiar with the great political, economic and social significance of this World Cup.
I think that is the misrepresentation of the reality in which we live. We hope that we will cultivate positive thinking amongst particularly Parliamentarians, because we are gradually turning this House into a platform to peddle newspaper articles. We are not elevating our engagement to speak about strategic issues of our society.
I think we have that duty; we must break out of the mould of artificial, oppositional politics where if an ANC member speaks you must howl, or if an ANC member sees a DA speaker he must howl. That is not how we must cultivate democracy, we must go beyond that now. We must try to show that we, as the youth of this country, have a duty to advance towards a nonracial society; a society in which we believe in the sanctity of the idea that whether one is in the ANC or in Cope, one must be able to engage and that this is the platform for doing so. That is very important.
With regard to Aids, statistics all over are creating a certain impression about our situation. It is suggested that every day about 1 600 people die of Aids and 1 500 become infected. Someone who spoke here said that South Africans are not aware of the scourge of Aids; that is not true. In the 1980s, yes, it might have been true, but not now. Where we live, in our families, in our communities, people are dying. We are well aware of that reality. We are making things very difficult in this democracy.
When I am a patient going to hospital now, I don't know what my ailment is. When I arrive in hospital, if a medical practitioner, who has been trained to examine my disease, enters the office, examines me and says, "Ishmael, you are HIV positive," would that infringe on my human right to privacy? Would that infringe on my human right to physical integrity? I don't think so. It will advance my health situation so that I am able to contribute to a better life in our land.
I think those are the issues that this society must tackle. That is a society of young people regardless of political affiliation and age. In fact, the young people of progressive youth formations are saying that these great revolutionaries in the ANC, who fought for freedom, began showing obvious political sympathies at the age of 14. Now, however, in terms of universal adult suffrage, there are people who are 16 years of age, who really have clear ideas about democracy, yet they do not have access to that political right.
The youth in the Youth League are saying, "Let's expand the frontiers of involvement of youth in politics." That is what this Parliament must debate. We are challenging our colleagues to engage in that debate so that we can get into a lot of engagement. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, South Africa is a democracy, and we thank God that now our youth's focus does not have to be on tearing down the system, but on building it up. While political parties choose to regard youth as people under the age of 35, they are nevertheless from the age of 18 years, men and women of responsibility and we should expect respect and nurture such a mindset.
The challenges the youth of today face are as important as the challenges youth had faced at any time in history. These challenges will require of them a determination and bravery, second to none. The youth of today should not be expected to walk in the shadow of a past generation. They should be valued for who they are and what they bring to this moment in time.
This year, as we commemorate Youth Day, we turn our focus to youth development in the context of the 2010 Fifa World Cup legacy. Part of the legacy of the Soccer World Cup is to extend the benefits to the whole continent. It should not only be experienced by ourselves as the host nation.
Imperative in carrying this legacy forward is the upright stature of Africa's youth; they will set the tone for the future of the African continent.
Fifa's Football for Hope movement, which uses the game for social change will involve youth from 50 organisations in 35 countries, chosen not for their skill on the pitch, but for their contribution to social change in disadvantaged communities. They will be playing football, but without a referee. Any disagreements between the teams will be resolved through, I am told, dialogue. They will tackle issues of ethnic violence in Israel and Palestine, environmental pollution in the slums of Kenya, HIV/aids education in South Africa, landmine education in Cambodia and a gang culture in Ecuadore - off the pitch, we imagine!
The ACDP wishes this ground-breaking event taking place in Alexandria during the final week of the 2010 Fifa World Cup every success. We, however, as footballers and as those who have participated in this game of life, have found through experience that referees can be very useful in minimising potential damage.
In everyday life, a "referee" can be a policeman, a judge or even one's own self-discipline and conscience; and these qualities are best nurtured within a family environment.
The ACDP wholly agrees with the Youth Development Month message, and calls on society to strengthen relationships within families to create a safe and caring setting that enables young people to have more positive and healthier lifestyles.
Youth development in South Africa is everyone's responsibility, including young people themselves and no amount of rhetoric can replace hard work and integrity. Young people, who have broken free from poverty and distress, have done so with the help of an attitude and determination to succeed.
These are the moral values which will ensure that the youth of today are best placed to build a caring society and extend the legacy of the Fifa World Cup to benefit our neighbours and the whole of the African continent. Feel it, it is here, South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson and hon members, it gives me great pleasure to stand here today on behalf of the DA and address this House during this celebration debate on Youth Day.
In 1976, we saw the greatest acts of bravery shown by any generation for the liberation of our country. Young people stood up, united and said, "This far, but no further". Although I was not born in 1976, it is thanks to the bravery of those young men and women that I enjoyed the education that I did and that I stand before you here today in a democratic and free Parliament.
One of the messages that I would like to bring to this debate today is the importance of the youth vote. Too many people died to give us the right to vote for us not to exercise this right. Our debt of gratitude for the bravery and self-sacrifice can only be repaid by us, the youth of South Africa, by being responsible democrats and voting in our country's election. Your vote does count, your voice is strong, and your country does need you.
The youth of our country face many problems and many dangers. Unemployment and crime are but two of the dangerous problems we face on a daily basis. However, the biggest scourge facing our youth today is human trafficking.
When I was asked to explain to a group of young teenagers what human trafficking is, my description was this: It is modern-day slavery, be it for sexual purposes, forced labour, to repay debt, or in some cases, for the harvesting of human organs. Human trafficking is the sickest that our society can be. It is the absolute worst form of human behaviour. How do we stop it? By standing up and repeating the words of 1976, "This far, but no further".
Many South Africans have questioned our lack of law regarding human trafficking. I am relieved that Parliament has tabled the human trafficking law. Although it is disappointing that this law took so long to be drafted and tabled, we cannot, as responsible legislators, rush through this law.
It is of paramount importance that the law is clear, concise and implementable. Although the worry exists that human trafficking will occur during the Fifa World Cup, the reality is that human trafficking occurs on a daily basis. We, as Members of Parliament, have to draft legislation to protect our people every day, not just during the World Cup.
We do, however, take comfort in the fact that existing legislation, including the Sexual Offences Act and the Children's Act, will assist officers of the law to take action against those taking part in human trafficking. We thank organisations including the International Organisation for Migration and other safe houses for assisting the victims of human trafficking.
It does, however, remain our responsibility to keep our youth safe. Although it can be an uncomfortable topic, speak to children about the dangers of human trafficking. Let them know what lies can be told to lure them away from areas of safety.
Encourage outings in groups, as opposed to boys or girls walking around alone. Ensure that young boys and young men understand that human trafficking does not only affect girls and women - all young people are vulnerable.
Human trafficking does not only occur when people are smuggled in or out of our country. It happens within our borders. For example, a person could be kidnapped in Limpopo and human trafficked to KwaZulu-Natal or to Gauteng; we must be aware and ready to take action.
The government must make sure that information is distributed widely, indicating who to contact if you suspect human trafficking is happening or become a victim yourself. Let us live by the mantra, "Your sister is my sister, your brother is my brother and your child is my child". Together, as South Africans, let's look after each other. Let us protect each other and safely grow our youth into tomorrow's future, today. I thank you. [Applause.]
We commemorate Youth Month and Youth Day as the direct result of the events of 16 June 1976. As we do so, I would like us to remember and give thought to the words uttered by Mrs Nombulelo Makhubu, mother to Mbuyisa Makhubu, an 18-year-old boy who carried a dying Hector Peterson.
Mma Makhubu said that Mbuyisa is or was her son -
... but he is not a hero. In my culture picking up Hector wasn't an act of heroism, it was his job as a brother. If he would have left Hector on the ground and someone saw him jumping over him, he would have never been able to live here.
I stated Mma Makhubu's words because we need more Mbuyisas in the youth of our country - more than we ever did before. Picking Hector up was not an act of heroism, but an act of brotherhood that characterised the youth of that era. The challenges that the youth fought against then still persist today, probably in a different form and manner.
Our youth face unemployment and poverty, but instead of seeing the legacy of brotherhood left by Mbuyisa and his likes, we see youth leaders who are so self-absorbed, greedy and corrupt that they cannot pause for a moment and pay attention to the plight of their brothers and sisters. They enrich themselves with corrupt gains from tenders and cannot see the poverty that is killing their counterparts.
This month, we pray for a consciousness that would recall the sacrifices of the youth of yesteryear and the richness that comes from laying your life down for your fellow. We pray for youth leaders that do not claim to be heroes and leaders when they could not pick up a dying Hector. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, guests and the secretary of the ANC from the Eastern Cape Province, comrade Mabuyana, feel it, it is here!
In the life of a nation, there arise men who leave an indelible and eternal stamp on the history of their peoples, men who are both products and makers of history. And when they pass they leave a vision of a new and better life and the tools with which to win and build it.
These are not just ordinary words; they are words that were used by Dr Dadoo when describing Moses Kotane. Are we then that youth today, given the current challenges of the century? An honest response coupled with serious introspection will make future generations really proud of us.
The challenges facing young people within the economic realm are multifaceted. For instance, the majority of unemployed young people experience long-term unemployment. Even those who are employed are concentrated in the service sector and tend to work in temporary positions. Racial and gender contradictions manifest themselves as Africans experience higher rates of unemployment compared to their counterparts in other race groups, and women relative to men.
It has also been suggested that youth self-employment could help to achieve youth development, employment creation and poverty reduction. For the majority of those who cannot access wage employment, the alternative to unemployment is self-employment. However, this appears to be an option chosen only by a small proportion of young people, despite the high unemployment rate among them.
As we are in the month of the official start of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, it is in order to remember what was said by one of the African revolutionaries in an economic summit of his country, the late Moses Samora Machel:
In reality a country that does not ensure the involvement of all its population at all levels of economic activity is certainly going to perform well below its actual potential.
[Applause.]
I am deliberately quoting him as we are to witness the first Fifa Soccer World Cup on our beloved continent, Africa.
A thriving economy should reflect the natural endowments of the country and the creativity that a skilled population can offer. It should be an economy in which cutting edge technology, labour-absorbing industrial development, a thriving small and co-operative sector, utilisation of information and communication technologies and different forms of production and management are combined to ensure national prosperity.
This is conditional on ensuring that the brains and brawn of all society are brought to bear on all economic activities. It requires deracialising ownership and control of wealth, management and professions.
From the fundamental principles of building an economy utilising all the available factors of production, the youth is an integral component of ensuring that attainment of transformation, which is being sought in the national democratic revolution. The South African nation is called to encourage, harness and incorporate the creativity, daring and energy of the youth into its endeavours. This relates to such issues as access to social and economic opportunities, engendering activism around development and values of community solidarity as well as creating the space for youth activity to thrive.
While the national democratic revolution creates an environment for discharging potential capabilities, it also recognises the youth as one of the motive forces of production in line with the character of a national democratic society. Such a character includes local economic development, research and development, job creation and skills development.
In the quest to realise these objectives and in pursuit of its major task of a better life for the youth, the ANC Youth League has placed itself at the centre of the broadest spectrum of youth organisations for the advancement of a youth agenda in areas of social and economic transformation.
The manifesto of the ANC at its last congress correctly noted the challenges and the way forward. It is against this background that the government has to ensure that the agency is at the centre of the developmental programme of the government, and that this agency is capacitated and resourced to provide leadership in encouraging youth participation in production and developmental activities. While the economic development of young people remains critically important because it is a matter of economic survival and advancement, the government would have to promote issues relating to social elements of youth development. These are issues of spiritual and cultural development, which are vital for societal development.
The right of the youth to be involved and contribute to their development finds credence in a statement by the former President of the ANC Youth League. Responding to a question about the growing unemployment of young people in the country, Comrade Malusi Gigaba said:
There are specific interventions that we want our government to do on our behalf, supported by us and in partnership with us - the youth. You must also know that we are attending to the matter of self-employment because we would like the youth to become entrepreneurs. We would like to see a national consensus emerging on a national youth entrepreneurship strategy, with targets and clear time frames and support mechanisms. In this is also incorporated the idea of youth co-operatives.
[Interjections.]
You wish, my darling! [Applause.]
The emphasis of the above response underscores the importance of economic participation as a critical national process for growth. The National Youth Development Agency, in partnership with government departments, has initiated and implemented programmes that are targeting the youth. Some of the programmes are earmarked for this year.
The programmes that I am talking about are as follows: The National Youth Service and volunteer programmes, which are aimed at young people for community development. In collaboration with 19 departments, it is encouraging to note that this programme has benefited more than 15 000 young people and the volunteer programme is in excess of 20 000.
The Expanded Public Works Programme has created more than 1,5 million work opportunities since its inception, of which 30% has benefited the youth mainly in infrastructure; the social environment and economic sectors; and youth advisory centres for career development and improving access to employment opportunities.
Over 1,1 million youth have benefited since the inception of this programme. The Targeted Skills Development Programme, is focusing on training interventions for young graduates. The projects are implemented through the FET colleges and NGOs.
With regard to economic participation for 2010 to 2011, the NYDA will focus on intensifying the National Youth Service Programme, the creation of business opportunities for young entrepreneurs, mentorship programmes, business consultancy vouchers and entrepreneurship education.
Various surveys and economic experts agree that unemployment mostly affects young persons in the age group of 17 to 24 years, in excess of 50%; and the age groups of 25 to 34 years, above 30%. Those who are employed are mainly in short-term, contractual jobs that do not offer job security or a skills transfer; and they do not belong to the trade unions.
Youth in rural areas face additional constraints, such as accessibility to services and facilities compared to their urban counterparts. These constraints result in the increasing migration of rural youth to urban areas and reproduce the cycle of rural poverty, hence the government has prioritised rural development.
To improve the economic circumstances of the youth requires the acknowledgement of the fact that various forms of employment are central to finding lasting solutions. Government has created several initiatives that are geared towards the participation of young persons in the mainstream economy.
Some of these initiatives have had a very limited impact as their implementation has not been aligned with similar programmes of other government agencies.
According to the National Youth Policy Framework, the absorption capacity of learnerships is insufficient to meet the demand from industry or to absorb the supply of young people requiring training.
Self-employed youth or aspiring young entrepreneurs face a variety of barriers to entry to trading if they are already in business. These include lack of appropriate business education, limited access to capital, lack of social or business networks or access to markets for their products and services as well as the availability of basic service facilities, especially for rural youth.
The lack of access to capital is one of the key barriers to youth participation in the economy. It is in that context that we are urging Members of Parliament to make sure that the newly enacted Money Bill is really put into practice to push for an effective National Youth Development Agency budget, in order to push away the frontiers of poverty facing young people.
It would be advisable that the national youth fund, under the national youth development agency, should create funding models that absorb high- risk premiums to make the cost of capital cheaper for potential youth entrepreneurs with sustainable business plans, compared to private sector financial institutions that do not, in most cases, fund high-risk projects.
I hope hon members will really understand the critical challenge faced by the NYDA. It is not an issue that can be debated, but it must be realised.
It is essential that the NYDA must be a catalyst for diverse and creative ideas that include other progressive stakeholders, in support of the overall objectives of the ANC-led government for advancing the development and empowerment of young people.
Oversight and other mechanisms created in the National Youth Development Agency Act should be used to ensure accountability of the agency to young people.
Needless to mention it, young people need to directly influence the process of appointing the people to govern the agency and operations of the board to deal with the challenges of education and agriculture. Indeed, an NYDA that is efficient is critical.
The role of the fourth democratic, activist Parliament is a must in advancing the national democratic revolution. For the benefit of the opposition, the National Democratic Revolution is a process of the struggle that seeks to transfer power to the people, and transform society into a nonracial, nonsexist, united and democratic one; that changes the manner in which wealth is shared, in order to benefit all the people. [Applause.]
In conclusion, today we are proud of the role played by the past generations and we want future generations to be proud of us. Hence I leave you to be always conscious of the seven things that will destroy us if we are not careful, as mentioned by Gandhi.
These are: politics without principles, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice, commerce without morality, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character and wealth without work. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon colleagues, my name is Ian Ollis and I am here to recruit you! [Laughter.] The youth of South Africa need you, they need us, often in ways that we do not really expect or anticipate. They need role models to follow in order to understand their place in the world and, boy, do we often disappoint them!
The hon Malale did not like the fact that my colleague used one newspaper reference. Well, let me give him another one. This weekend the hon Deputy Minister of Transport, who has not bothered to stay for this debate on the youth, in exasperation at the landslide defeat of the ANC in by-elections in the Western Cape, said:
The (by-election) results are another warning to us. I think there have been very serious mistakes from the side of a certain organisation that is a league of the ANC ... or certain personalities in there.
Of course, the leaders of the ANC Youth League have been calling for the destruction of property in the Western Cape, which is appalling.
Maar dit is net een voorbeeld van die manier waarop die jeug deesdae teleurgestel word. Die VF Plus, wat ook nie hier is nie, sowel as sy bedmaat, die ANC, trek die jeug agteruit deur hul herhaaldelike verwysings na die verlede se probleme. Hulle het albei 'n patologiese verslawing aan die pyn en swaarkry van apartheid.
Daar is net drie woorde wat oorbly in die ANC se woordeskat - apartheid, Polokwane en rassisme. En hulle herhaal dit oor en oor en oor in hierdie Huis totdat die jeug die televisie se afstandbeheer gryp en die kanaal verander!
Die VF Plus is in dieselfde posisie. Hulle gee die jeug niks om na uit te sien nie, want hulle hak vas in die verlede. Dit is eintlik geen verassing dat die VF Plus en die ANC so heerlik saamwerk in die regering nie. Hulle leef die rasse-nasionalisme van die verlede uit - presies wat ons jeug nie nodig het nie.
Wat ons wel benodig is leierskap wat die jeug 'n droom gee van 'n toekoms waarin hulle kan glo. Sal dit nie wonderlik wees as ouers in hierdie land ons kinders hoop gee vir die toekoms nie?
In November verlede jaar het 'n vriendin van my, wat in 'n township grootgeword het, my in 'n restaurant vertel sy staan op die punt om na Londen-toe te vertrek. Haar redes was nie wat ek verwag het nie. Sy het ges dat sy baie na aan haar ouers is, maar hulle leef in die verlede, en hulle kan nie aan die rassisme van die apartheidstyd ontkom nie. Sy kan dit nie meer vat nie, daarom verlaat sy die land. Sy het in Londen nou werk gekry. So verloor Suid-Afrika nog 'n belowende, jong, swart uitblinker wat hierdie land kon maak werk. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[This is only one example of the disappointments the youth have to suffer these days. The FF Plus, who is also not here, as well as its sleeping partner the ANC, is pulling the youth down with their repeated references to the problems of the past. They both have a pathological addiction to the pain and suffering of apartheid.
There are only three words remaining in the vocabulary of the ANC - apartheid, Polokwane and racism. They are repeating those words over and over again in this House, until the youth grab the remote control of the television in order to change the channel!
The FF Plus is in the same position. They are giving the youth nothing to look forward to, because they are still stuck in the past. It comes as no surprise that the FF Plus and the ANC are working so well together in government. They are reliving the racist nationalism of the past - exactly what our youth does not need.
What we do need is leadership that can give the youth a dream of a future in which they can believe. Would it not be wonderful if parents in this country could still give our children hope for the future?
In November last year a girlfriend of mine, who grew up in a township, told me in a restaurant that she is on her way to London. Her reasons were not what I expected. She said that she is very close to her parents, but they are living in the past, and they cannot steer away from the racism of the apartheid era. She cannot stand it anymore and that is why she is leaving the country. She got a job in London. Hence South Africa loses another promising, young, outstanding African who could have helped to improve this country.]
Chairperson, parents and grandparents who are still holding onto the pain of the past do not have a free and open hand to grasp the opportunities of the future.
Another friend of mine told me last week that his grandmother has just declared that when the 2010 Fifa World Cup is over she intends burning down the house and the spaza shop of the illegal immigrant family that live at the end of the street! She feels that these illegal immigrants are taking job opportunities and housing space away from true South African families.
This kind of behaviour does not set a good example to our youth and it is, then, not surprising when we get the behaviour that the hon Deputy Minister of Transport, who is not here, was referring to this week. Shame!
So, I am here to recruit you to rise above the suffering of the past, to tell our young people about the extensive goodwill in this country, and to tell them that there are opportunities out there waiting for them so that they can excel. They can start new businesses, like Mark Shuttleworth did, and make it big in the international arena. They can succeed, like the 1995 South African rugby team did. They can build South Africa's first satellite and launch it into space, as they did at Stellenbosh University with the Sunsat project.
I am here to recruit you to set an example by telling our youth that they can and that they will succeed, and that their generation will rise above what we have done and break those racial chains of the past. They will inherit a truly equal-opportunity society. Now, let us go out there and build it! I thank you.
Hon Chairperson of the House, hon members, while I was sitting here I was planning to stick to what I was going to say, but I was distracted by the hon Ollis who has just spoken. I don't know where he came from; he just popped up at this podium and said things with which I suppose the majority of young South Africans would definitely never ever agree. This is precisely because if they did, they would have queued to vote for the DA in the last elections. And that is why they didn't do that! [Interjections.]
This year we are commemorating the 34th anniversary of June 16, which saw the revolt of young people against the oppressive system of apartheid. When they marched out of school on that day, they chanted slogans for democracy and immediately pushed South Africa's brutal regime back onto the international agenda. They had teargas, rubber bullets and live ammunition fired at them and, on the spot, Hector Peterson became the first victim of the brutal force unleashed by the regime on that day, June 16.
The scores of young and innocent bodies recorded on that day were meant to intimidate any form of uprising anywhere in the country. That failed, as the youth went all out to depose the apartheid regime and ultimately did so 28 years later.
As we commemorate this day today, I am reminded of what popular jazz artist Wynton Massalis said in his eulogy to Duke Ellington:
If you give me a fair chance, I will show you the true meaning of democracy.
That is the fair chance, hon Ollis, that the majority of young South Africans are still lacking.
These words are what have inspired different generations of young people since colonisation, oppression and exploitation. From the youth rebellions led by Shaka - Ufasimba - to those led by Bambatha against the tax laws; to those who were forced to work underground in the mines for the gold and diamonds they would never own while they were dispossessed of their land and cattle; to those who fought against the Land Act of 1913, were all pushed by these words: If you give me a fair chance, I will help you understand the true meaning of democracy.
From the youth, who protested against the terrible working conditions in the economically booming Johannesburg; to those who felt the harsh and brutal realities of apartheid capitalism as they were forcibly removed from Sophiatown to Soweto; to those who formed the ANC Youth League, the SA Student Organisation and the Congress of South African Students; to those who revolted on the cold morning of June 16, beginning their action in Morris Isaacson, they shared that sentiment. [Interjections.]
If you give me a fair chance, hon Barnard, I will make you better understand the true meaning of democracy. [Applause.]
These words pushed into action those young people who skipped the country to train as soldiers of uMkhonto weSizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army; those who were incarcerated on Robben Island; and those who today are afforded an opportunity to vote. Yet the brutal force of the capitalist system, defended by the DA on a daily basis, prevents them from truly enjoying the true fruits of democracy. These words echo: If you give me a fair chance, I will help you understand the true meaning of democracy.
As a free, democratic country we have made significant strides towards a better life for all South African citizens, black or white. However, we constantly remind ourselves that much more needs to be done if we are to speak of a truly free, democratic and just society. This is all that our youth of today are fighting for: a fair chance.
Of course they know that the blood of Kalushi Mahlangu did nourish the tree of democracy and freedom. They know that had it not been for our democratic system ushered in in 1994, they would still be required to carry pass books, be forced to learn in the language of the oppressor, see their parents being humiliated for opposing the system of apartheid and hear that their brothers and sisters were harassed and detained without trial. They also know that they would never have been allowed to vote for the government of their choice and see the ANC-led alliance being the majority party. Instead they would not have had any hope and have been full of despair at the prospect of there being a black president of this country.
Yet they still say, "Nay, these are the only political gains from the sweat that Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki and Robert Sobukwe shed as they languished in jail. What about the economy? What about the land?" they ask.
"What about the ownership of the factories and the mines? What about the banks and the monopolies; were these not the same fair chances that Ruth First and Chris Hani fought for? These are the same institutions that formed part of the exploitation of our parents and our parents' parents. If we are given a fair chance in the ownership of these institutions, then we will help you understand the true meaning of democracy." [Applause.]
The youth declare that our country is the most unequal society in the world, surpassing Brazil in terms of the Gini coefficient measure of income inequality.
They come out onto the streets in true June 16 protest style and bemoan poor service delivery by municipalities, but yet the main precursors of these protests remain unemployment. They come out onto the streets in true June 16 style and blame people from neighbouring countries for their economic miseries; and yet the true precursors of their unemployment is the continued skewed racial ownership patterns of our economy.
They come out onto the streets in true June 16 style and demand to be taken to Gauteng or Mpumalanga, and, yet, the real precursors are the actual demands for land and bread in our country.
If you listen to them carefully, they ask, this youth: "Is this what Mandela fought for? Did he fight only to have our government being held solely accountable for our misery? Did he struggle only to have us pushing each other to be first in the queue for social grants?"
What about the accountability of the private sector? Are they not the ones who are looting us - our sweat and blood - and then rewarding themselves with huge bonuses? Are they not the ones who are pushing our government away when it seeks to transform the ownership patterns of our economy?
Many in the private sector celebrate the fact that they have reached their 26% black economic empowerment and 40% black management targets of their companies, as per the Employment Equity Act. But is that a fair chance, especially when 74% of the economy is still in white hands - and the DA, on a daily basis, is here to defend that? [Applause.] Look at the racial profiles of the owners and managers of the companies listed on the stock exchange. Is that a fair chance? That's what we ask. [Interjections.]
For them - and listen to them closely - true and total transformation and a fair chance mean that the ownership of wealth should be in the hands of the majority in pursuit of a humane society.
For the youth of our country, June 16 means that we should pursue the values of a caring, loving and secure society. For them, June 16 should be about education and skills for those who are illiterate and unskilled so that they are able to get jobs or create jobs.
June 16 for the youth of our country means access to health care for those who are sick. It means housing for those who have no shelter. It means an end to exploitative practices, especially in the private sector. [Interjections.]
If you look at the inequalities in our society, in which CEOs of banks are paid millions of rand on the basis of how much debt they are able to sell to our communities, there is no accountability. If you look at the CEOs of bread companies who are paid millions of rand on the basis of how much price-fixing they are able to do, that is what we call a lack of accountability in the private sector.
If I start with you, hon Kohler-Barnard, you would not even be able to finish saying "BBC". [Interjections.] [Applause.] Others will proclaim and say: "But it is our constitutional right to accumulate as much as possible and then the government should take care of the rest. You cannot take away our factories and our land because they are protected by the Constitution." [Interjections.]
But is it not the same Constitution in which the right to work, the right to life, the right to speak in Parliament ... [Interjections.]
Chairman, I rise on a point of order. It would appear that the hon speaker at the podium is now talking in some kind of code. I believe it is important that he explain to us what "BBC" actually means. [Interjections.] Because, quite frankly, Mr Chairman, if he is making some kind of crude joke, it is important that we understand it. [Interjections.] It's not possible that he could stand up there and speak in a kind of ...
Order, hon members!
It's not possible that he could stand up there and speak in a kind of code that is not understood by all Members of Parliament. I suspect it is unparliamentary. [Interjections.]
Hon Manamela, could you explain what "BBC" is, if you can. [Interjections.]
Point of order, point of order, Chairperson!
What is your point of order? I didn't say it is unparliamentary; I just said he should explain. That's all I am asking.
Chairperson, I believe the hon Ellis is playing games and interrupting the speaker. There is no reason for him to explain that, in our opinion.
I will leave it to Mr Manamela to explain, if he so wishes. When he continues with his speech he will probably give us an opportunity of knowing what BBC is.
Thank you very much. With the 2010 Fifa World Cup around the corner, researchers in the field of ...
On a point of order again, Mr Chairman. I thought that you had ruled that he had to tell us what BBC stands for. [Interjections.]
I said ... [Interjections.]
But, Mr Chairman ... [Interjections.] Mr Chairman ... [Interjections.]
I said he could continue with his speech. At the end, he can explain what it is.
But, Mr Chairman, what he actually said now might be incredibly pertinent to what he says in the future. [Interjections.] He can't tell us at the end, sir. He has to tell us now. [Interjections.]
The difficulty here is that we don't know what BBC stands for.
But, Mr Chairman, he knows ...
We can't say it is unparliamentary at the same time, right?
I agree with you fully, sir. But the trouble is that he needs to tell us what it means, because he is the only one, as far as I know, who knows what it is. [Interjections.] He needs to tell us now, sir.
Hon Ellis, thank you very much. Hon Manamela, I said you could explain it to the House, but continue and then before you leave the podium if you could just explain it. [Interjections.]
"BBC" is a public broadcaster in Britain, so there is nothing unparliamentary with saying BBC. [Laughter.] [Interjections.]
Let me just deal with you very briefly. I searched very hard in the manifesto of the DA for values that would build a nonracist, nonsexist and democratic society. I must tell you that it was a fruitless exercise. I also hoped to come across a clause in that manifesto speaking to an open- toilet society for the residents of Guguletu. [Interjections.] And I still did not find that particular clause in the manifesto.
Whatever opportunities there are in open toilets, I can only leave to the imagination of the Premier of the Western Cape and the Mayor of Cape Town. I wonder if their houses have the same toilets as those in Guguletu. But how ironic that a struggle for better toilets has sparked the downward spiral of the DA government in the Western Cape. The people of this city will flush you down the same toilet.
I also came across a statement by the same DA about why there is a need to implement a youth employment subsidy, because they insist that this is their idea. There is nothing whatsoever.
What the ANC government will implement is a youth employment subsidy to the benefit of the youth of our country and not in the way in which you are trying to present it, which is to the benefit of the company bosses and all of those things. That is not going to happen.
Thirty-four years after June 16, the objectives of building a nonracist, nonsexist and democratic society still remain. The goal of liberating blacks and Africans from economic and political bondage still remains. In doing this, we have to understand that there is growing anger and frustration among the black youth who are yet to share the collective fruits of our democracy.
This leads them to violent protest, usage and trafficking of drugs, prostitution, co-option by crime cartels, desire for the life of "bling" as most of the opportunities are closed by the unaccountable - in particular, the private sector.
Equally, in doing so, we have to address the fears and suspicions of young, white South Africans - and not in a political way because we know that if we begin to engage with these issues, in particular with political parties, all they are interested in is perpetuating the racial profiling of our political parties. Therefore, it should be engagement with the majority of our people in building a collective society.
We, equally, have to ensure that a nonracist society can only be attained if it is an equal society. We have to contribute equally to ensuring that white is not generally identified with wealth, whilst black is identified with poverty. It is in the interests of all South Africans, especially us as the youth, that we pursue the goals of an equal, nonracist and democratic society based on social justice. In that way, in our striving for social justice, the other accompanying ills of crime, HIV and Aids, and so forth, will come to an end.
I think it should be very embarrassing that you compare a young person, whose opportunities are closed completely, to Mark Shuttleworth, who had abundant opportunities provided to him by a long-standing, oppressive apartheid regime. [Applause.]
I think that you should be very embarrassed to begin to compare the opportunities of young people in Alexandria to those of young people in Sandton. [Interjections.] You should be very ashamed of yourself to actually come here and do that. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
In closing, I think the only thing that will keep the DA alive is to speak as long as possible about the president of the ANC Youth League. I think he will continue to disappoint you, because his role is not to build the DA. I think if your policies are based on that, you must be careful of what the ANCYL and the Young Communists League are doing - flushing out the DA! [Interjections.]
To conclude, to borrow from Don Mattera's lovely poem "Sea and sand". He writes: Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa
But more the South of Africa where we live ...
Bless the angry mountains And the smiling hills Where the cool water spills To heal the earth's brow
Bless the children of South Africa The white children And the black children But more the black children Who lost the sea and sand That they may not lose love For white children Whose fathers raped the land ...
... But when, Oh when will I see that day When love will walk the common way To heal my wounded people And break the shackles around their hearts?
[Applause.]
Order, order, hon members! Order!
Debate concluded.