Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, acting director- general, distinguished guests, hon Masango, I think life is no longer about SGL Engineering nor is it about Julius Malema. Therefore I think we must really grow and focus on our mandate. [Interjections.]
The 1994 democratic breakthrough ushered in a period in which youth development became part of the developmental interventions of the democratic state. In particular, youth formations of the government became seized with, among other things, the development of youth focused policy and legislative frameworks. Central to those were the National Youth Commission Act, the National Youth Policy of 2000 and the National Youth Development Policy Framework of 2000-07.
The above-mentioned frameworks outlined the country's perspective and institutional arrangements for youth development wherein some difficulties and weaknesses were identified, hence the need for a national youth convention was. The convention was aimed at reviewing the policy perspective and institutional mechanisms for youth development in the country. This convention adopted an integrated approach, which was canvassed by the ANC Youth league during the robust engagements which took place in the convention at Emperor's Palace in 2005.
This integrated approach to youth development required realignment of the institutional mechanisms for youth development in the country. It was within this context that a decision to establish a National Youth Development Agency was taken to ensure integration, sustainability and responsiveness to the aspirations and needs of our young people.
Let me deal with the ANC policy perspective. The ANC has always viewed young people as the most important stratum in society and, as such, has sought to ensure that they are fully integrated into society as agents of change. Consequently young people are regarded as a critical component within the motive forces of the national democratic revolution in the thorough-going process of resolving contradictions created by the system of colonialism and apartheid. This means that young people have an objective interest in driving the national democratic revolution, NDR, towards its logical conclusion. As active agents of change and social transformation, they stand to benefit from fundamental transformation of our society. As a consequence of the significant role played by young people in bringing about a democratic breakthrough in South Africa, the ANC seeks to ensure that past imbalances created by the apartheid regime are redressed and that young people are afforded the opportunity to participate meaningfully in all sectors of society. After realising the impact of the apartheid government's deliberate neglect of young people, the ANC continues to prioritise issues of youth development within the broader framework of reconstruction and development of the South African society.
Following its capturing of political power in 1994, the ANC started implementing its policy commitments through setting up institutions for youth development. Currently, the ANC remains committed to ensuring that South Africa has the best institutional vehicle for integrated youth development so as to ensure effective implementation of youth development policies and programmes.
The ANC's national policy conference in July 2007 dealt with critical tasks facing the movement. Primary amongst these tasks was the challenge of dealing with the effects of unemployment through the Expanded Public Works Programme which is linked to the urban renewal and integrated sustainable rural development strategy. We acknowledged at that policy conference that the implementation of the national youth service programme created a huge opportunity for our unemployed youth and must be sufficiently expanded. The conference tasked government, through the Expanded Public Works Programme and Setas, to pay particular attention to the provision of skills to practitioners in the early childhood development, ECD, and Adult Basic Education and Training, Abet, sectors.
Six months later, at the occasion of our 52nd national conference in 2007 held at Polokwane, we resolved that government directly absorb the unemployed through labour-intensive production methods and procurement policies as well as a significant expansion of the public works programmes linked to the expansion of economic infrastructure. We further resolved that government should meet social needs with home-based care and early childhood development on a massive scale; provide a much larger national youth service; and ensure the linkage of industrial strategy with key youth development programmes in the form of an integrated youth development strategy.
At the conference the ANC equally reaffirmed its commitment to youth development by its resolution that government should review the existing institutions of youth development and create a national youth development agency that will ensure integration, sustainability and responsiveness to the demands and aspirations of South Africa's youth. While it emphasises commitment towards youth and youth development, the ANC policy paradigm on youth development also places obligations on young people to work for reconciliation and promote a common South African identity; to participate actively in the political, social and economic life of the country; to combat discrimination and racism; to promote democratic values; and to acquire skills and play a productive role in the economic reconstruction and development of the country.
Let me deal with jobs for the youth. Given the high level of youth unemployment in the country, youth economic development should be anchored around the idea of youth co-operatives so as to provide for collective ownership and control of the economic resources produced therein. Unlike the privately owned business enterprises, these youth co-operatives would have greater economic impact in terms of responding to socioeconomic challenges facing the youth of South Africa. The national youth service remains one of the programmes concerned with creating job opportunities for the youth. In addition, the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, is also tasked to create 40% of work opportunities for young people.
From 1 April 2009 51 learners participated in the learnership programmes. The department implemented an artisan training programme with the intention of addressing the shortage of qualified artisans in technical fields. It is noted that the department is constrained by financial challenges to meet the 2,5% target of absorbing national service graduates. However, the department should focus on this area in the 2010-11 financial year due to the priority placed on the resuscitation of workshops. Unemployment, hon members, amongst the youth is very high and is at almost 3 million.
Let me briefly refer to the national youth service which is a government initiative launched in August 2004 to engage young people in service activities that are aimed at nation-building whilst providing opportunities for learning. The youth service objectives are to promote social cohesion and build social capital; to inculcate a culture of service to communities by young people; to inculcate in young people the spirit of patriotism and an understanding of their role in the promotion of civic awareness and national reconstruction; to develop the skills, knowledge, and abilities of young people to enable them to make a meaningful transition to adulthood; and, lastly, to improve youth employability.
In the context of the ANC government's commitment to transformation and social development, the national youth service programme has the potential to mainstream youth development. It also has the potential to proactively address poverty reduction, skills development, youth unemployment, building caring communities and enhancing social cohesion. It would also include the delivery of vital services including community care, water, housing, community infrastructure, adult education, food and nutrition.
The critical point of departure for youth in construction is to build the capacity of communities to operate and maintain infrastructure and, in this way, increase the number of entrants into the built environment trades. Historically, the national youth service project, the national Department of Public Works and the national Department of Labour have been working on specific projects in construction skills training. This skills training has enabled young people to proactively participate in national development.
In an effort to strengthen the national youth service programme and make it sustainable, government departments have identified projects that could support this initiative and the national youth scheme. The refurbishment and maintenance of public buildings has been one area in which youth development in the built environment has taken place. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]