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.