Mgcini-sihlalo, Mphathiswa weSebe loKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi, Baphathiswa abakhoyo, Sekela-mphathiswa weSebe loKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi, ooSekela-baphathiswa abakhoyo, Malungu eNdlu yoWiso-mthetho abekekileyo, zindwendwe ezibekekileyo, umongo wentetho yam uza kugxininisa kwi-National Youth Service.
Ndivumele Mgcini-sihlalo ndicaphule kumazwi obulumko enyange, umongameli u- Oliver Tambo wombutho wesizwe i-ANC ndenjenje: (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms N R MABEDLA: Chairperson, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, hon Ministers who are present, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Deputy Ministers who are present, hon members of the National Assembly, distinguished guests, the main topic of my speech focuses on the National Youth Service.
Allow me, Chairperson, to quote from the wise words of the old man, president Oliver Tambo, who was a member of the ANC and say: "A nation that does not take care of its youth, does not deserve a future."]
Youth unemployment is fast reaching crisis proportions in our country, which could pose a threat to national security. There are millions of unemployed youths in urban and rural areas who have no sense of hope that they will have a better future, and are dehumanised and robbed of their dignity as a result.
These young people go through formal education, are either failed by the education system or face extreme social difficulties, and do not pass matric, or pass but without matric exemption. The majority of them end up on the streets in townships and villages across the country without a skill, with poor and inadequate education, and with no work experience at all owing to the terrible legacy of apartheid.
The ANC always looks for workable solutions for every challenge it confronts, and the aforementioned youth challenge is no particular exception. The ANC has resolved that its government should implement a national youth service programme to address not only the challenge of youth unemployment, but to build social cohesion among the youth. The National Youth Service should be strengthened as a platform to assist in training young people and in ensuring the availability of guaranteed jobs in the public sector after training.
In the same vein, as we speak, there are noticeable achievements in this area, for example the concept paper on the National Youth Service has been completed. A pilot programme is under way in Bloemfontein, with a group of 500 recruits undergoing training. However, another 2 000 recruits are planned for the financial year 2012-13, and 6 000 recruits are also planned for the financial year 2013-14.
Umzali waseMntla Koloni, e-De Aar, uyalincoma iSebe loKhuselo naMagqala oMkhosi likarhulumente okhokelwa yi-ANC. Uthi unyana wakhe ukwenye yeekholeji zasemkhosini, kwaye uyakwazi ukuthumela itiki ekhaya, nto leyo igxotha ikati eziko. Kaloku amathuba amancinci anje enza ubomi bubengcono. Ubamemile abazali ukuba baye kumxhasa kumboniso wokuthamba owaziwa ngokuba yi-Parade Day ngomhla we-11 kuCanzibe, e-Oudtshoorn. Unyana lo unqwenela ukuba ngumqhubi weenqwelomoya kwicala lezokhuselo. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[A parent from the Northern Cape in De Aar commends the Department of Defence and Military Veterans of the ANC-led government. He says his son is undergoing military training in one of the Defence Force colleges, and he can send money home, which helps to eradicate poverty. As you know, small opportunities such as these can change people's lives. He has invited his parents to attend the Parade Day on 11 May 2011 in Oudtshoorn. This young man wants to be a pilot in the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. [Applause.]]
We commend the department on its commitment to implementing the National Youth Service by using core defence capabilities to provide initial training to the youth prior to absorption into service delivery departments. Through the National Youth Service programme, the department aims to produce highly disciplined young people by inculcating the following: Time management; self-management; understanding of basic regional and international dynamics and how they impact on South Africa; preparedness for workplace professionalism; being conscious change agents and pioneers of nation-building who are active in social crime prevention and agents of social security; understanding of the family as the basic structure of society; being holistic individuals in body, soul and spirit; and being community builders and patriots.
However, it should be noted that as much as it is desirable to roll out this programme to all interested youths, budgetary constraints dictate that the department enrols a capped number of youth per particular intake. Also, the need arises for the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to work together with other departments in the Public Service to ensure that the trained youth are gainfully employed in the government. We also call upon the business community to come to the party and assist, not only in resourcing this initiative that is bound to change the complexion of our country for a long time to come, but also to avail themselves to assist in skills training and job placement of the trained youths.
The ANC seeks to build a national democratic society through developmental state that is nonracial, nonsexist, prosperous, united and democratic. The National Youth Service is the relevant vehicle through which to realise this ideal as youths from all parts of the country will be given the same training, regardless of race, gender, culture or creed. This programme will undo the racial exclusion that was imposed upon our people. It will produce a united nation, not in name, but in vision and outlook.
Through this budget, the youth will be taught life skills, discipline and patriotism. It is true that this programme is what South Africa has been waiting for as it has the capacity to remove the youth from the streets, crime and drug abuse. It has to be linked with moral regeneration.
Through this budget the youth will be given skills which they can use to make an honest living, even if they are not employed. It is our plea that all future-loving South Africans rally behind the National Youth Service programme for the sake of future generations. We should remember that even though we attained our freedom through a negotiated settlement, apartheid had a huge impact in terms of destroying the family structure, and our youth paid the dearest price.
We therefore need to reconstruct our society in the manner we seek it to be, and the National Youth Service programme offers us the opportunity to teach our youth values. To build a future united society, we need our youth to be kept away from the negative influences that beset our society and teach them how to live as responsible and constructive citizens.
In conclusion, allow me, Chairperson, to stress that, as the ANC, we are committed to the development of our youth, committed to assisting them to succeed and committed to seeing that they contribute meaningfully to our economy. It is, therefore, satisfying to note the efforts of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to make a success of the National Youth Service and they can be assured of our full support. I thank you. [Applause.]