Exploring the role of youth in politics and the economy

“The country that does not take care of its youth, it’s future is threatened”, OR Tambo. This quotation was made by uMtshezi Municipality Mayor, who is also the chairperson of the ANC uKhahlamba region, Bongani Dlamini, to more than 300 youth during a discussion entitled ‘The role of youth in politics and the economy’ held at the Estcourt Town Hall.

People came from as far as Johannesburg, Durban, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Mnambithi to listen to the former ANC Youth League President Ronald Lamula and other youth leaders. Mr Dlamini said that the youth must think out of the box to reclaim the economy of the country from being manipulated by the minority so that it is shared amongst all South Africans. “We can’t be characterised by the events, which are taking place in parliament staged by the Economic Freedom Fighters,” Mr Dlamini said. He added that the youth must have the ability to assist the government to take South Africa forward.

He said people who are turning a blind eye, are claiming that it was better during the heydays of apartheid system and yet it was not. “How do we assist the government to redress the situation?” Mr Dlamini has posed. He said we could do this through unity and uniformity as: “Mandela took the country so far and we are responsible to take it forward.” The former ANC Youth League President Ronald Lamula, who now owns a law firm, said that one of the challenges that faces the youth is unemployment and it is known and identifiable. Mr Lamula said that HIV/Aids is part of the youth’s daily life.

Mr Lamula told the youth that in the corporate world, new innovations are coming from young people, for example Facebook and the iPad. “We must claim and take our rightful place as the youth in South Africa,” he said. However, this has to be done with discipline and in line with the policies of the country. Mr Lamula said the youth must move away from the generation of biblical studies and rather take on other subjects, which will change the society. He said the time of AK-47 is over and replaced by knowledge and books. NFP KZN Provincial Organiser Roy Bhengu said we should fight all social ills and stay away from teenage pregnancy.

The uKhahlamba ANCYL Regional Secretary Melisizwe Zondo said that during the Provincial Youth Development Strategy Summit in Durban, it was emphasised that education and the economy were the centre of focus. Meanwhile Gauteng Premier’s advisor Nyiko Mabunda said we cannot talk about the “born frees” because of the past oppressive laws. During the questions, answers and comments segment, the youth requested that the local government give them feedback or progress on any discussions involving the youth. They have also requested full-scale FET campuses in the uThukela district. They requested the revamping of boarding schools and more sport academies. Meanwhile others differed saying people from FET level are not considered in terms of employment. The Mayor confirmed that there is not much being done by the local government and suggested that there should be a suggestion box at the municipality and more meetings of this nature in future.