Chair, I am just guessing, but could it be that recent reports of youths being the main perpetrators of violent attacks on foreign nationals have somehow inspired this Youth Day topic?
Now, in view of the considerable resentment expressed by South Africans in affected communities towards foreign nationals, because they are seen to be taking jobs or because they have been successful entrepreneurs, findings contained in a recent survey on entrepreneurship among youth, are of specific interest.
Did you know that most South African youths believe it is government's responsibility to provide them with work, according to the annual University of Cape Town Global Entrepreneurship Monitor study and that nearly a third of respondents said they would definitely not accept a low- paying job and would rather be unemployed? These trends do not bode well for entrepreneurship or the labour market and perhaps have other even more worrying implications.
Faith in entrepreneurship is particularly low among black and coloured youth, as there is a low level of innovation and many who do get involved in businesses make or sell the same things as others. Limited access to capital is a major deterrent, but social factors such as crime are the biggest stumbling blocks. About 76% of respondents in the Western Cape and 68% of respondents in Gauteng felt that starting a business was just too risky; that they would get robbed or mugged and their efforts would be wasted. Another drawback is drug abuse.
The report urges government to establish an integrated model to help youth entrepreneurship in South Africa and the ACDP supports this call. When our young people catch the vision and begin to succeed as entrepreneurs, this youth in action will be better placed to build a caring society. The ACDP further calls for this integrated plan to include instruction on the value of moral values based on solid, proven principles. Thank you. [Applause.]