Liberate the youth

Puleng Motaung writes:

Mr Mluleki Nkosi, first of all, I would like to congratulate you for taking the mayoral office.

I really hope that while sitting in that office you will prioritise us, the youth of Ratanda, meaning that some of us are graduates for years but we can’t even get an opportunity to intern with the municipality.

The youth have resorted to using substances such as drugs (nyaope) and alcohol to suppress the depression and stress that comes with being graduates and not getting any employment. I am actually hoping that you, Mr Mayor, are coming with the change we have been hoping and praying for, considering you are one of our own.

As a man who grew up in Ratanda, I am hoping you will prioritise youth development.

I am hoping our sports facilities will be revamped and used for what they are meant to be used for. It saddens me to see that our sports facilities and youth centres have become nyaope smoking centres.

We have a high number of teenage pregnancy and school drop-outs due to the fact that teenagers have no other means of entertainment rather than alcohol, which results in being irresponsible and having unprotected sex. Mr Mayor, please liberate the youth.

Free us from dependency syndrome. We have graduates, we have soccer and other sports players, we have youth that are talented in the field of arts and culture and I believe that granted opportunities, Ratanda will produce a great range of talent. And please do also consider agricultural development.

Oh, and Mr Mayor, the issue of security is a great concern in our location. We are tired of living in fear, we are tired of losing our loved ones due to crime and GBV and nothing being done about it.

Lastly, Mr Mayor, the youth have a much more important role in building the community. The future of our community depends on the youth. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela said: “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.”

So please, sir, save and develop our youth. We have faith in you.