Siphelele Nketo
TO commemorate 50 years since the Soweto Uprising, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has called for the massive participation of young people in shaping the future of South Africa. He was concerned about the low turnout of young people in elections. Mabuyane commemorated June 16, known as Youth Day, in EmaXesibeni (Mount Ayliff) on Tuesday.
He said the youth of 1976 demanded not only better education but a voice in shaping the future of their country, saying that today responsibility rests with every young South African.
“If young people want to influence the future of their communities, they must ensure that their voices are heard. The generation of 1976 confronted teargas, detention and bullets because they believed their voices mattered. The least we can do to honour their sacrifice is to participate actively in the democracy they helped secure,” he said. He called for action from Alfred Nzo youth in particular.
“Our vision is to build a province in which young people are not spectators in development, but active participants in shaping the future of our economy and society. This requires sustained investment in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, technology and economic growth sectors capable of creating opportunities at scale,” he added.
He acknowledged the establishment of a new agricultural-focused campus in Ntabankulu saying that it represents a strategic investment in the future of rural development.
He said the institution will not only train young people in modern agricultural production but also support the development of agro-processing industries and value chains that can create sustainable livelihoods across the district.
To prepare young people for the global economy, he said that the government is rolling out programmes that equip young people with practical skills in plumbing, electrical work, welding, bricklaying, carpentry and other trades that are essential for economic development.
He said that partnership with countries such as China, Germany and Japan creates opportunities for young people to gain exposure to advanced technologies and technical skills that will enable them to compete in a global economy.
