Glenville Fransman writes:
When a child is born, no mother wishes for her son or daughter to become a criminal, drug addict, bully, or abuser. No one is born with hatred towards others based on their skin color, background, religion, sexual orientation, or identity. Racism and discrimination, whether in schools, universities, or any sector of society, must not be tolerated. Sadly, bullying and abuse are on the rise among children and youth in our schools and communities.
While some progress has been made since the dawn of democracy, our education system still suffers from racialized inequality and segregated schooling. Quality education remains inaccessible to many youth from black and colored working-class and rural communities. This is an injustice that we, as the youth, must address.
The youth of today face numerous challenges, including high unemployment, poverty, discrimination, and violence. They grapple with high crime rates, limited access to quality education, economic inequality, and social issues such as substance abuse and violence. These issues also contribute to psychological and emotional stressors, including anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Statistics reveal troubling trends: approximately 21.3% of all children do not live with their parents, while only 32.7% live with both parents. About 122,000 children in South Africa live in child-headed households. Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of children not attending school. In 2021, nearly 3% of 15-year-olds and almost 9% of 17-year-olds had dropped out of school. Childhood should be a time for growth, learning, and development in a caring and safe environment.
Values such as respect, courtesy, and consideration are fundamental to a civilized society. Respect for others and authority, discipline, and good manners should be nurtured at home, in schools, and within communities. Effective discipline involves teaching children responsible behavior and self-control, helping them understand consequences and take responsibility for their actions.
There is also a pressing need to support and protect vulnerable groups, including orphans and the elderly. Both public and private sectors must work to involve fathers more actively in parenting and discipline, potentially through national fatherhood programs.
Young leaders must engage on all platforms to address the pressing issues of today: the weaknesses in our education system, high school dropout rates, high unemployment, bullying, homelessness, gangsterism, and the need for youth motivation and support for entrepreneurial development. We must also focus on improving access to information and tackling gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS.
Everyone deserves a safe place in our beautiful country. As we move forward, let us stand united and committed to creating a society that upholds our constitution and democracy. God bless South Africa.
