House Chairperson, Deputy Minister, comrades and colleagues, I looked at all of you in the House as I was trying to figure out who is the same age as me. I know of one, though!
Chair, I want to say that when I look at myself and you, I think back to 32 years ago when I was a student at Fezeka High School in Gugulethu. The events of one Wednesday, 11 August 1976, in the Western Cape changed things. It's like it happened last year. None of those young students had it in their minds that one of them would be standing here today. I want to repeat the words I uttered yesterday: Viva the spirit of asijiki [no turning back]!
I-ANC ayizange ikhombe indlela iphinde ijike; kungoko ndisithi eyethu into ayiguqu-guquki. Ngabula Brenda, "indaba yethu istreyiti, ayifuni rula". [The ANC did not show us the way and then turn back; that is why I say we are not going to change. Like Brenda says, "Our business is straightforward, it does not need a ruler."]
For many years, young people in South Africa experienced very challenging conditions, including lack of opportunities, poor infrastructure and race- based access to education, training and development. They were exposed to high levels of crime and drug abuse.
Ukusekwa kweKhomishoni yoLutsha kweza nenguqu enkulu ebomini babantu abatsha. Amathuba abantu abatsha, ngakumbi abo babengakhathalelwe ngurhulumente wocalu-calulo, enza ukuba noko bazibone nabo bengabantu abanazo izakhono zokwakha eli lizwe, ukuze sonke sihlale ngolonwabo, Mnu Watson.
Kwakhona, ndikwafuna nokuthi masingenzi ngathi konke kulungile, kuba amandla olawulo engakuthi,. Nangoku kusekho ukungalingani ngebala, into leyo ke esele ibangwa kakhulu kukungalingani kweepokotho. Nangoku abasetyhini - okanye mandithi, Sekela-Mphathiswa, abesifazana, ukwenzela ungahambi ufunana nabasetyhini nje - ngakumbi abasemaphandleni, abakaxhamli , kwaye namathuba akakavuleleki kakhulu.
Ukuba sithetha ngokwebala, nangoku abantu abaninzi abangaphangeliyo ngabamnyama. Xa sisiza kumba wemfundo, mandithi ... (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.) [The establishment of the National Youth Commission brought about a big change in the lives of young people, especially those who were previously disadvantaged by the apartheid government. It made them feel like people who have the skills for building this country, so that all of us stay in peace, Mr Watson.
Again, I want to mention that we should not pretend that everything is well just because we are in power. Even now there is still discrimination based on skin colour. This practice is happening because we are not at the same economic level. Even now, the fairer sex - or let me say, Deputy Minister, women, to make it easy for you and so that you do not go around looking for the fairer sex - especially the ones from the rural areas, are not enjoying the privileges, and opportunities are still few.
If we talk colour, even now many of the people who are not working are black people. When it comes to the issue of education, let me say ...]
... for many years in South Africa, education was used as a key instrument in reinforcing the apartheid regime's racial policies and legislation. Many matriculants could not be employed. Today's government has recognised that for young people to be the future's economic foundation, it has to empower and invest in this sector. However, this is not how we would have liked things to be.
Yinqwelo ecothayo le, ifana nendlovu. Kambe ke, ngenye imini iya kufika apho iya khona. [This is a slow wagon; it is like an elephant. However, one day it shall reach its destination.] There is still a need to put more resources into this sector, which will assist with combating the many social challenges we are still faced with.
Kubantu abatsha ndifuna ukuthi, thathani inxaxheba ngoba amathuba emfundo avulelekile noko ngoku kweli lenu ixesha, kwaneendlela zokuphila nezomsebenzi zingcono. Ngelaa xesha lethu wawungaba ngutitshala, unesi okanye ube ngumabhalana nje. Ngeli ke ngoku ixesha noko siziguqule izinto, abantu baba ziinjineli, iijaji, ooprofesa, njl njl. Kaloku maninzi amathuba, kwaye nakwezemidlalo aphangalele. Siyabafuna abanye ooMakhaya Ntini okanye ooKhaya Malotana. Ndiyazi ke ukuba ndichaphazele umba obuhlungwana, onobuzaza nobuhlanga, kodwa ndicinga ukuba le Komiti kaQabane uTolo mayiwuqwalasele lo mba, ngoba uyafuna ukujongwa. Makungakhululeki abantu ababini sibaninzi kangaka. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[To young people I want to say, they must take part, because educational opportunities are open these days, and also the working and living conditions are better. During our days you could only be a teacher, nurse or just a clerk. Today things are different; people can be engineers, judges, professors, etc. Now the opportunities are many, even in sports. We want to have more people like Makhaya Ntini or Khaya Malotana. I know that I have touched a sensitive issue, which is racial and thorny, but I think this committee of Comrade Tolo could take serious note of it, because it needs special attention. Democracy is not for a few people; it is for all.]
Young women must involve themselves in the fight against sexism and discrimination.
Ngezingekho ezaa zinto zazenzeke phaya kwisitalato iNoord ukuba abantu abatsha bebeliqonda nabo igalelo labo. [If the young people knew how important their contribution was, what happened in Noord Street would have been avoided.]
The ANC's contract with the people encourages partnership with other partners against poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunities. Let us do so by strengthening the resolution from our Polokwane conference on the merger of the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, and of course, other provincial initiatives.
Ndicinga ukuba siza kutsho siwubone umahluko, ngakumbi apha emaphondweni, nanjengabantu abamele amaphondo apha. Sinako ukuzenza kakhulu ezi nguqu. Mhlawumbi kuyafuneka ukuba sijonge namanani ekusebenzeni ezi zinto. Okwangoku izinto zingekaguquki ncam siyanyanzeleka. Mandiqgibezele ngelithi, kuloo maqhawe namaqhawekazi anikezela ngegazi lawo ukuze sikhululeke, igazi labo lisathetha. Nanjengoko i-ANCYL iza kuqgibezela inkomfa yayo, sinqwenelela inkomfa leyo isidima nesithozela kwesi sihlandlo, nanjengoko kulindelekile kwimibutho engaphantsi kwe-ANC. Ndiyabulela. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[I think we are going to see the difference, especially in the provinces, as people who represent the provinces here. We can make the difference. Maybe we should compare figures when we are working with these. For the time being we are forced to do so. Let me conclude by saying to those heroes and heroines who sacrificed with their blood in order for us to be free, their blood is still inspirational. As the ANCYL is going to finalise their conference, we wish them a dignified and peaceful one this time, as we also expect that from other structures which are under the ANC. I thank you.]