I will repeat the question: How do we change youth political engagement in this country from a sordid spectacle into an honest discussion about how the youth of this country can increase their civic participation and contribute to the drive to address the critical issues facing them and their peers?
I believe that the answer to these questions, or at least the beginnings of the answer, lies here in this august House, which has recently seen the entrance of a number of talented young public representatives, following the elections of 22 April. It is amongst these young MPs that the debate about the challenges facing our youth may take on a more dignified and respectable tone, one which is in keeping with the gravity of the challenges that lie ahead for South Africa's youth and one which recognises that although we may be young, it remains incumbent upon us to conduct ourselves with dignity as the adults that we are. [Applause.]
This is the vibrant youth voice which must begin to supplant the shrill, combative, irrelevant voices which have come to define youth political engagement in South Africa ... [Applause.] ... a voice which speaks not only to the fears, but also to the hopes, dreams and ambitions of all the young people of this country.
Mr Chairman, I'm very pleased that we've all had the opportunity here today to see the calibre of young MPs which this fourth Parliament now has within its ranks, and I therefore issue a challenge to my fellow young hon members here today, both from the incumbent party and from the opposition: Let us begin to set in motion here today a youth discourse in South Africa which will do justice to the hundreds of brave, principled young people who gave their lives in 1976 so that we would be able to stand here today. I thank you. [Applause.]
NK B THOMSON: Sihlalo, abaphathiswa bonke abakhona, amalungu ahloniphekile akhona onke eNdlini kanye nentsha. Angibonge ukuthola leli thuba lokuphonsa esivivaneni kule nkulumompikiswano ekhetheke kangaka. Asiyibonge kakhulu intsha yethu eyabona kufanele ukuthi ibambe iqhaza ekukhululeni izwe lakithi.
Kukho konke lokho ukuzinikela kwayo, sithi entsheni yonke siyayithanda futhi siyaziqhenya ngayo. Sithi-ke nayo ayizithande futhi iziqhenye. Ingani naku simi kuyo impela iNdlukazi Yesishayamthetho Sezwe, sidingida ikusasa layo intsha. Yithuba leli elakhiwe nguye lo hulumeni wentando yeningi, uhulumeni kaKhongolose.
Ake sibuke isitha esibhekene naso namuhla: yisitha sendlala, ubuphofu, izifo, izidakamizwa, izinselelo zemfundo nokunye okuningi. Mangidlule ekutheni sinethemba elikhulu koNgqongqoshe bethu Bezemfundo umama uAngie Motshekga kanye nobaba uBlade Nzimande. Impela sengathi inkomo siyidedele nabakwazi ukuyisenga. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Ms B THOMSON: Chairperson, provincial Ministers present here, all the hon members present in this House, and the youth, I am grateful for this opportunity to take part in this special debate. Let us be grateful to our youth who deemed it fit to play a role in the liberation of our country.
For all the sacrifices they have made, we are saying to every youth, we love you and are proud of you. We are therefore saying that they too should love and be proud of themselves. Surely, today we are sitting in this House, the National Assembly, discussing their future. This is one of the opportunities created by this democratic government, the ANC-led government.
Let us look at the enemy we are facing today: hunger, poverty, disease, drugs, educational challenges, and many more. Let me mention that we have great hope in our Education Ministers, namely hon Angie Motshekga and hon Blade Nzimande. And it really looks like we have placed this task within capable hands.]
It is encouraging to all of us to see some of our youth who have forgone the luxury of this world to go and study at some of our institutions. In this effort we hope that they do realise that they are doing nothing more than to better our very beautiful country, South Africa, and also to better the lives of all South Africans. During one of his manifesto addresses Ubaba Madiba mentioned that the most powerful weapon is education, education, and education.
Hon members, we are inspired by the goodwill of our youth and also proud of what they shall become in the near future. We also hope that they shall become good citizens of this country. We have all tried to build and shall endeavour to continue to build ... [Interjections.] ... that will not disturb me. We are all aware that as we congregate here, there are some of our brothers and sisters who have not had the opportunity to study as some of us have, then how do we bridge the huge gulf where we coexist as the literate and the illiterate; where we all as a nation seek a path of building and rebuilding the South Africa which we all aspire to enjoy?
It is common cause that our very families, churches, communities and society at large nurture and guide us as we walk this long road. I have said that we coexist in society as the privileged and underprivileged. The youth I am referring to is the youth who have been privileged to get the opportunity to study while others have not.
Our youth, unlike the masses of our people that have not had the opportunity to study, have it right in their hands. How do we lift these deprived masses, so that they too can enjoy the fruits of this liberation that has brought us thus far? Some of our youth students will become social scientists, accountants, medical practitioners, legal practitioners and the list goes on. I think it is our duty to commend them and also humbly request from them as learned people to lend a helping hand to our fellow brothers and sisters.
We all know that there are so-called change agents; our very youth are those very change agents. They will after completion of their studies venture into the world of work; they must bear in mind that as they venture into this world of work they will not only be sustaining themselves and their families but they will be contributing to society and South Africa at large. Their contribution will definitely filter into other institutions, like churches and business, in society and will eventually make a mark on the global world. As they progress in their achievements, let them not leave their brothers and sisters behind.
Hon members, I therefore humbly place the great task before them in this wonderful month of the youth, that they transmit their skills, knowledge and experience to those who have not had the opportunity. There has been much effort on the part of our government to accelerate the path of skills development; theirs is to accelerate this more and more. I want to say to them that in the midst of this road, they will encounter many, many challenges and also gain unexpected experience too.
Out there in the world of work there is a vast store of knowledge. One will be surprised by the vast knowledge that exists in our communities, despite their deprivation of education. This is the so-called indigenous knowledge. For example: you will go into a farming community, only to discover that one's academic career is supplemented by the indigenous knowledge that exist out there; therefore to our youth, I do hope that they will realise the experience of mutualism that they could enjoy.
This also brings me to the recognition of prior learning; prior learning is gained as you travel the route of life and gain experience. Our government has realised that such learning has to be recognised and as such it is recognised by the SA Qualifications Authority.
In conclusion, having encouraged our youth, both black and white, to join hands with their fellow brothers and sisters to transmit the academic achievements, in that process they will reap the fruits of unselfishness and development. They could also contribute to Adult Basic Education. Even on a small scale it will make a vast difference. This will not only develop their personal careers, but at the same time enhance a better life for all, which our government has always pursued and continues to pursue. Phambili ngenyanga yentsha, phambili! [Forward with Youth Month, forward!]