Good evening, Chairperson, Minister and everybody.
The youth of 1976 went into the streets of the country determined to fight for their freedom, determined to lay down their lives for this freedom that we enjoy today. I am quite certain that many of them are turning in their graves after seeing what is happening in our country today.
They see desperate young girls and women being used as objects, where sushi is being served on their naked bodies and so-called youth leaders are enjoying themselves, eating from these bodies. Those in power abuse their offices to get rich, to become millionaires and even billionaires. And respect and discipline are slowly vanishing from our society.
The economic landscape in South Africa is dire for the generation under 30 years old. In a South African Institute of Race Relations survey it was stated that 57% of the youth were unemployed in January 2011. Two weeks ago Zwelinzima Vavi, the General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Cosatu, warned that unemployment of the youth in South Africa was a ticking time bomb. Mr Vavi was saying this because the ingredients are there for an explosion. Government has been promising to create jobs since coming to power in 2009.
When you look at service delivery protests around the country, who are the people that you see in the front line of these protests? It is the youth! These youth are constantly met by police with teargas, imprisonment and gunfire to suppress the protest.
Cope agrees with Mr Vavi on this point, and urges the government to take this observation very seriously and address the issues of the youth before it is too late. You must never underestimate the patience of the youth.
In 1976 the youth said that enough was enough - they would lay down their lives. Let us not have that situation repeating itself in this country, because the youth of the country will say enough is enough. Thank you very much. [Applause.]