Youth must fight for economic power
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has called on young people to lead the charge for radical socio-economic transformation.
“We got political freedom, today we are saying economic freedom must come to the owners of the country. As the youth, you must know that you are the soldiers who must fight this battle for economic freedom,” Zuma said
Speaking at a Youth Day celebration in Hammarsdale, Zuma said there was an urgent need for a fundamental change in the structure of the economy in favour of all South Africans, especially the poor, the majority of whom are female.
“This is a struggle that you must wage vigorously, knowing that when we start talking about radical economic transformation, those who hold the economy won’t like it because you are removing a system that makes them rich,” Zuma said.
He added that it was the right of the youth to fight for economic freedom and that they should not fear detractors.
Zuma was warmly welcomed by hundreds of young people who had come to listen to programmes for their development by the municipality.
He called on the youth to emulate leaders like Chris Hani and Nelson Mandela, who fought for freedom “fearlessly”.
He said political freedom without addressing the economy was an incomplete democracy and told the youth that it was their job to redefine both democracy and freedom.
“The youth of June 16, 41 years ago, died for political and economic freedom that we were denied by being given an inferior education. Today you are given opportunities, what are we doing about those?
“That is a critical challenge to young people. That’s why it is more than correct to apply policies that are radical, revolutionary and that are changing the status quo economically,” Zuma explained.
He said poverty, inequality and unemployment began when black people were dispossessed of land, adding that the land question was therefore “very much related to the economy”.
“I joined the revolution to fight against the suffering of black people, I am not done yet. Don’t be scared of speaking about this as the youth, it’s the truth.
“If we don’t take the economy into our own hands, talking about it like a dream, we will live in poverty forever,” Zuma.
He added that the land question should be resolved within the law, even if it took amending the constitution.
Zuma called on the youth to be active participants in shaping a better South Africa as they were the dreamers and the future.
He also cautioned the youth against social ills like alcohol and substance abuse, crime and violence against women.
He said the police needed help from young people to curb crime.
Zuma advised the youth to pursue careers that would equip them with rare skills to strengthen the economy of the country and to ensure a better future.
“Don’t just study for a BA degree… the youth must be at the forefront of creating a better South Africa,” he said.