Godongwana tells youth to focus on quality education

ANC head of economic transformation Enoch Godongwana yesterday urged young people to get a quality education instead of relying on “radical economic transformation”.

Godongwana was invited to address members of the ANC Youth League Cadres Forum at the Xaba Hall in KwaLanga in Uitenhage.

The gathering, attended by about 50 youths, was themed “the role of the youth into the transformation of the South African political economy”.

Godongwana started by reflecting briefly on the June 1976 uprising and the struggle faced by that generation and their desire for a better education and liberation from apartheid.

Young people today were faced with different challenges, including high unemployment, which negatively impacted on quality of life.

“Young people, you have got a battle. Your battle should not be voiced around radical economic transformation,” he said.

“These things [radical economic transformation] speak to BEE [black economic empowerment]. You are far away from that. What you need is to get a quality education. Get up in the morning and go to work.”

Godongwana painted a bleak picture of a high number of unemployed people, saying the majority were youngsters, particularly black youngsters and women living in rural areas.

He said the ANC and government had been on a rollercoaster ride over the past two months, citing the cabinet reshuffle, the Gupta e-mail leaks, ratings downgrades and utterances by public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane on amending the constitution.

“All these things have placed us in a very difficult position. We are unable to focus on issues we are supposed to be putting our focus on,” he said.