We shall overcome, says Ramaphosa

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has said that despite that the challenge of youth unemployment which at 64% is huge, the government is committed to resolving it.

He also admitted during his Youth Day address yesterday that although the youth of the present day has better opportunities than their parents and grandparents, they still faced challenges.

This year’s main Youth Day celebration was held in Pietermaritzburg and due to Covid-19 restrictions, Ramaphosa addressed the gathering virtually.

The IFP and DA also held virtual rallies yesterday to mark the day.

Ramaphosa paid tribute to the youth of 1976 such as Hector Pieterson, Sibongile Mkhabela, Seth Mazibuko and Tsietsi Mashinini, among others, who despite being unarmed, took on the apartheid government.

“They were taking a stand against a cruel and unjust system. They were rebelling against Bantu Education, which, despite its name, was no education at all. It was another tool of the apartheid system to keep black South Africans in servitude,” Ramaphosa said. He added that the youth of 1976 ignited a fire of resistance that even the apartheid government could not extinguish.

“They lit a fire of resistance that the racist government of Pretoria would not be able to extinguish, no matter how hard they tried. When many of our leaders were jailed or exiled, it was young people who showed the world that freedom is not given, but it is taken. We salute them. We owe our liberation to them and to the many others who sacrificed so we could all be free today,” he said.

Ramaphosa told young people that the country’s economy had been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, but he said that as there were efforts to revive the economy, young people would be at the centre stage.

“Right now, our economy is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. A situation that was already bad has become worse. We are putting young people at the centre of our national recovery.

It is the singular focus of this administration to ensure that young people are given access to opportunities so they can better themselves, that they can drive change in their communities and contribute to our economy. As government, we are driving a number of initiatives, some of which began before the pandemic.”

Ramaphosa mentioned a range of initiatives undertaken by government to ensure that young people are economically empowered.

Among them was an online platform called SAYouth.mobi which easily provides information and at no cost to young people.

“You can create a profile, view opportunities for learning and earning, and receive support through multiple channels. SAYouth.mobi has been zero-rated by all mobile networks so that it can be accessed by young people from anywhere in the country at absolutely no cost.”

IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa yesterday used his Youth Day address to his party’s Youth Brigade to reiterate the IFP’s call for the postponement of the local government elections.

Hlabisa said that as a responsible leadership they did not want South African lives to be placed at risk by forging ahead with the local government elections, which have been scheduled for October 27.

“Scientists have warned us that we will see what we have never seen. On Tuesday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa said ‘we have never experienced a health crisis of this magnitude’. So why do we want to risk the lives of the people of South Africa, yet we know we are heading for the storm?” Hlabisa said.

He added that elections were a process and not an event of one day because parties had to mobilise people, meet them face to face through doorto-door campaigns, nominate candidates, launch manifestos and keep contact with voters.

“Under the lockdown regulations of level 3 where only 50 people indoors or 100 outdoors are allowed, these activities cannot happen,” Hlabisa said.

Due to the adjusted lockdown level 3 regulations, the DA’s scheduled Youth Day event in Mitchells Plain was cancelled. The opposition party, however, proceeded with a virtual event in which DA leader John Steenhuisen said that even though the youth may be facing the biggest challenges in SA today, it is this generation that holds the power between government and the people.

“You need to realise the power you hold in this relationship between government and the people. As long as our democracy works – and I assure you, it does still work – then all the power lies with you. What you choose to do with this power will make or break the future of this country.”

The party’s Federal Youth Leader Luyolo Mphithi said South Africa is trapped by the past and wanting a better future, while DA Youth Western Cape Metro regional chairperson Tami Jackson called on the youth to be more intentional about their existence and participation in the country’s democracy.