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.]