Calls for talks on initiation

THE South African Youth Council (SAYC) in the Chris Hani region has called for a regional initiation indaba to assess, discuss and resolve on a clear plan of managing the crises in the initiation season to start in June this year.

SAYC regional spokesman Sihle Blue Melamane said the council had noted with concern the increase in the number of initiate deaths. “As the umbrella body charged with the responsibility of championing the aspirations of young people and defending their interests in the Chris Hani district, we wish to place on record our unequaled support for all initiatives and mechanisms that have been crafted by all affected stakeholders jointly,” she said.

The youth structure advised that a workshop should be conducted by the department of health and traditional leaders to capacitate traditional nurses and further define health standards for initiation practices. SAYC advised the compilation of a database of traditional nurses within communities to be used to source traditional nurses every season.

The establishment of Ward Based Initiation Forums was needed, while road shows, at least two months before every initiation season, to condition and motivate prospective initiates to test for HIV and other related illnesses, would also help.

Focusing on the recently-released matric results, Melamane said after noting the matric results of the district and the province in general, SAYC acknowledged the need to begin a “Right to Learn Campaign”. The district dropped from 58% in 2014 to 55.6% last year. The campaign would have to be premised on leveling the gap between private and public schools with an approach that capacitated the previously and still disadvantaged population of the region.

“This approach should start no later than the end of January this year with a joint sitting to solidify plans to turn around the fortunes of the region. Both radio stations - Vukani FM and Lukhanji FM - have been engaged to assist with airing extra lesson on mathematics and physics,” she said. SAYC also called for the immediate assessment of the ‘matric camps’ with the intention of concentrating all the existing efforts to enhance learning conditions and improving performance.

Speaking on the establishment of a National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in the district, she said Chris Hani District Municipality executive mayor Mxolisi Koyo had reaffirmed his full support for youth development and the establishment of the office. “SAYC commends the efforts of NYDA to improve the access and visibility of the agency in the district. In the SAYC-NYDA youth dialogue in December, the agency committed to assisting youth in the district under the leadership and stewardship of SAYC,” she said.

Another dialogue in February would aim to discuss how NYDA packages could best be used as instruments to unlock economic and social opportunities. Soft support for emerging youth enterprises and solidification of a regional youth development strategy would also be discussed.

“Among the commitments made was training for 250 young people on South African Revenue Services (SARS) related services by SARS and 200 bursaries to be rolled out by the Education and Technology Development Agency in 2016,” she said.

The SAYC regional executive committee is planning for Miss SAYC on February 16.