Our youth have so much to offer
AHEAD of the State of the Province address (Sopa), I invited members of the public to contribute towards the drafting of Sopa. I am encouraged by valuable inputs, especially from young people across the province and in areas such as Chatsworth, Phoenix, Newcastle, Richards Bay and others.
The youth population is a valuable asset, as they are the successors upon whom a country depends for the continuity of socio-economic development. It is for this reason that I have undertaken to ensure there is a greater focus on youth-empowerment programmes moving forward. In addition, I acknowledged existing organisations with programmes focusing on youth development.
However, while these efforts are appreciated, there is a need for integration in order to make an impact.
I discourage the silo-mentality and competition among youth-development agencies and organisations, including government departments.
This, in my view, may hamper our efforts aimed at harnessing the full potential of young people.
Flowing from Sopa, the main focus of the Office of the Premier is to ensure that provincial government departments and municipalities across the province have youth development units that are managed by youth managers.
These units should have a real presence and footprints at community level to drive youth development, as guided by the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP).
I have stated in several platforms that the PGDP provides a lasting sustainable solution to youth unemployment and ultimately delivers us closer to the National Democratic Society, which will bring to an end apartheid legacy and create a more equal society.
It is a perfect answer for the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Critically, I want young people to be at the forefront of the implementation of the PGDP in its entirety. In this regard, the provincial government, working with the Provincial Planning Commission, will partner with Brand South Africa, the National Youth Development Agency, Department of Small Businesses, Department of Trade and Industry and other relevant government departments, to ensure that young people are involved in the sectors of the economy as articulated in the PGDP and the National Development Plan.
I have accordingly mandated the youth directorate in my office to drive the “youth entrepreneurship revolution”, as part of efforts aimed at encouraging the youth to be job creators instead of being job hunters.
I also announced during Sopa that the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, will drive programmes focusing on radical economic transformation. Critically, I believe that this transformation will only be realised when young people are in the driving seat.
I have stated several times that the young people of today are the generation born to defend the gains of our democracy. I have called on the youth to use the political power we achieved on April 27,1994 to liberate millions of our people from economic oppression.
Furthermore, I have emphasised that while the ANC-led government has adopted various policies to create a prosperous South Africa, it is correct that the youth should table issues for discussion.
I have encouraged the youth to use their energy and vibrancy to sustain discussions on the policy choices available in the manner we manage the economy and ensure that resources are beneficial to more people.
I have expressed my commitment to ensure that young people are empowered to implement strategies and programmes that are designed to eradicate poverty and eliminate the legacy of apartheid, whereby those who are poor are mainly black, rural and peri-urban dwellers and largely uneducated, unskilled and unemployed.
I have singled out, among others, infrastructure programmes as having a potential to drive radical economic transformation.
The overall infrastructure spend in the province across the budget votes of the 14 provincial departments has now reached more than the R12 billion mark.
The added advantage is that this expenditure is now being co-ordinated through the newly developed decision matrix emanating from the KZN Infrastructure Master Plan.
The plan is aimed at improving integration and alignment of key infrastructure-development projects within all spheres of government. Apart from generating employment opportunities for the youth, I have directed that the youth-owned enterprises should be involved in these massive capital investments.
There are different sectors of the economy which have been identified to drive radical economic transformation across the province. These include the manufacturing sector, which has been for some time, and still is, the backbone of our economy.
The tourism sector showed very strong signs of recovery in 2016.
This is indicated by an increase in air arrivals and hotel occupancy, where KZN is outperforming the rest of the country. KZN maintained the top position of having the highest number of domestic tourist arrivals in the country. On the international market we remain second.
The government is working with the private sector to develop products and experiences that are attractive to both domestic and international tourists.
This sector also lends itself ideally for growing inclusivity, and by implication radical economic transformation, not just in the ownership of tourism facilities, but also in the full value chain of services to be rendered. I have also directed that opportunities must be created for young people to enter the maritime sector.
Since the launch of Operation Phakisa here in KZN by President Jacob Zuma, the KZN government has been making progress towards unlocking opportunities in the ocean economy. Plans are at an advanced stage to set up the Maritime Academy.
In addition, a relationship has been formed with the South African German Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Natal Yacht Club. The main focus is to unleash a skilled maritime community that is capable of growing this industry.
The focus of government is on the export of our agricultural produce, especially from rural small-scale farmers and co-operatives owned by the youth and women in general, thus opening up their chances of entering the global export markets with our ocean as a vehicle.
Since my deployment as the premier, I have addressed many young people and youth leaders in various platforms.
I have expressed my unwavering support for all youth- empowerment programmes, because I understand the power that young people have and what the minds of young people combined can produce.
It should be noted that this democratic government has ensured the sitting of a youth parliament annually, as part of efforts to promote a healthy debate focusing on finding solutions to problems faced by the province, and young people in general.
It was unimaginable under the apartheid regime that youth leaders from diverse formations and different political parties will, at one stage, demonstrate commitment to the spirit of dialogue.
I have made a firm commitment to ensure that this term of office is characterised by ongoing interaction with young people. For instance, the creation of an environment conducive to learning and teaching, and fighting crime requires the active participation of young people at all times.
Regarding issues around rural development, agrarian reform and food security demand, young people must work together with the government to boost the capacity for communities to produce their own food.
The young people of 1976 brought us freedom and the government is confident that the young people of today have so much to offer. We value their active participation because we understand that anything we do without their involvement will never yield any positive results.