Thank you, Chair. Indeed, three minutes is not enough to really debate this very important issue. Fortunately, I'm not like the hon Mabe. Mabe has just heard about 1976; she was never part of 1976. Hon Mabe should learn to understand the seriousness of the youth of 1976. She is sitting next to one of the veterans of 1976 and she must learn from the hon Dan so that she can be somebody, somewhere, some day.
We speak on the youth of today, and we commemorate the 1976 youth, who recognised the inequalities and had the courage to stand up against them. It would be a great pity and an injustice to those who lost their lives in the Soweto uprisings if, 35 years down the line, we could not find sustainable solutions to our growing problem of unemployment, which impacts directly on the economic wellbeing of our youth.
Employment, skills development and entrepreneurial drives should be focused on rural areas, which are often overlooked by government bodies when they are planning youth upliftment programmes. Provinces with rural areas should command equal attention and access to funds and programmes designed to address challenges facing the youth in this country.
A few months ago R100 million was spent on the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA. I think, if we could have split the R100 million among the nine provinces - that is, R11 million per province - we could have done much better in educating and empowering our youth, so that the youth could get somewhere. Education is the only tool to overcome poverty.
Chairperson, allow me to say this. A youth leader should embody tolerance, self-discipline and respect in order to set an example, like Dan Montsitsi, for his or her peers. It therefore concerns us that this Julius Malema's arrogance and disregard for leaders, including the South African President, is being condoned. Why are the leaders keeping quiet while Julius is rude and ill-disciplined? He is a black child; he needs to be reprimanded. He needs to listen to the older people because this ANC that has died for many people was never ill-disciplined and never rude.
Let me just say this one thing further, Chairperson.
Die dapperheid en die opoffering van die jeug van 1976 moet nooit gering geag word nie, want die visie wat hulle aan die dag gel het, het 'n aandeel tot ons vryheid vandag. Die jeug van 1976 is die rede hoekom ons vandag soveel vryheid het. Hulle het 'n visie gehad,en hulle het 'n doel in die lewe gehad. Ek wil dus 'n pleidooi lewer dat ons nie die jeug moet onderskat nie. Die jeug moet ook nie hulself onderskat nie, want dissipline sal maak dat die jeug sukses behaal. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The bravery and the sacrifice of the youth of 1976 should never be disparaged, since the vision they displayed has contributed to our freedom today. The youth of 1976 are the reason why we are enjoying so much freedom today. They had a vision, and they had a purpose in life. Therefore I would like to plead with you that we should not underestimate the youth. The youth should also not underestimate themselves, because discipline will result in the youth attaining success. Thank you. [Applause.]]