Chairperson, on 16 June 1976, multitudes of South African youths emerged from township schools to confront a brutal system of racial oppression, universally condemned as a crime against humanity. We commend our hon President, Mr Jacob Zuma, for highlighting the importance of youth, especially in sports and other areas, and trust that we will continue to engage our youth in extensive, supportive programmes that empower them as future leaders.
What, then, are the challenges the present generation has to grapple with? What kind of youth consciousness is needed today to address the kind of issues thrown up by a free, nonracial society? Indeed, what are the characteristics required for the present generation to measure up to the challenges faced by the democratic order? Importantly, how does the current generation ensure continued contribution to the systematic national effort to undo the pervasive social realities spawned by apartheid?
These are the questions that must be answered during the process of building a better society for all our people, black and white. This would allow the youth to enjoy their lives in conditions of total freedom and have them mark out a role for themselves, necessarily to help bring to fruition the objectives of this free society set in motion by the 1976 youth.
The MF has a turnaround strategy that has placed much emphasis on the empowerment of our youth. We have always maintained that by cultivating young social minds through appropriate social support programmes, we will see an emergence of youth that will mobilise our communities for a better future. The MF has proposed that the National Youth Commission should reflect the broader spectrum of the population of South Africa.
Furthermore, all ward committees and municipalities should have youth commissions. The kickoff of the countdown to the 2010 soccer World Cup means our youth should have positioned themselves to assist our country and continue to engage various role-players in the opportunities arising from hosting the 2010 soccer World Cup.
We also need to learn from the experiences and programmes of other youth commissions in other countries such as India and Canada, where the motto is: "Be the change you seek."
Entrepreneurship is the power to change. Make entrepreneurship a credible alternative to getting a good job or being a victim of the system. We also need to engage young people by demonstrating that they have the power to create change and that they have a voice through their participation in the exchanges in markets that have a direct impact on their communities.
At the same time, all of us must understand that we cannot fulfil the dreams of a better life for all when our communities are faced with serious problems of young drug addicts and alcoholics, who face a bleak future and who constitute a liability to society.
We live in a globalised world, shaped by powerful forces that impact on the destinies of weak, poor and developing nations. Understanding globalisation issues enables us to develop a critical consciousness about responsibilities in the world. So, based on this knowledge, we can correctly wage struggles for global justice, peace and equality. Thank you. [Time expired.]