Look ahead, top DA man tells pupils

HUNDREDS of Khayelitsha and Mfuleni residents gathered at Ntlangu Bison High School in Site C, Khayelitsha yesterday, for a brief Youth Day address by DA Western Cape acting leader and MEC for Human Settlement Bonginkosi Madikizela.

The crowd, mostly dressed in blue DA T-shirts, sang Struggle songs, cheered and danced as they waited for Madikizela to deliver his speech.

The politician said the biggest problems facing youth were gangsterism, drugs and unemployment.

“While it is important to know about the past, we need to forge ahead and look into the future. We must know the past but not live in it,” Madikizela said.

He added the DA in the province was making progress in tackling unemployment, and that there were 32 000 trainee artisans in the city which his department would “use in future housing projects”.

However, scores of young children in attendance appeared tired and unaware of the significance of the event, with some even falling asleep.

Esona Mzikizi, a Grade 4 pupil, said she was at the event because her teachers had told them to go. She said she would rather have been playing with friends.

Nomsa Nyongo told Weekend Argus she hoped more young people would take part in such events so they could challenge government officials for themselves.

The mother of three teenage boys said none of her children would be able to go to tertiary institutions as the family could not afford it.

“My 19-year-old has been at home since 2015 and has lost hope of getting a job. His brother finished matric last year and the last-born is in Grade 11.

“You hear about these opportunities the minister speaks of, but they always go to a select few,” said Nyongo.

Meanwhile, a group of young people in Khayelitsha were packing blankets, building materials and food on an open field they had been attempting to invade.