Speaking at the Ekurhuleni Youth Lecture that took place at the Germiston Civic Centre, recently, Makwetla reiterated words of former President Thabo Mbeki, saying that the development of the youth must include a sustained effort to raise the level of political consciousness, to ensure the defeat of the de-politicisation and demobilisation of the youth.
He said both private and government sectors must get young people skilled and working in order to make sure that there are no disgruntled youths, who will be forced to reverse the gains of democracy.
He singled out unemployment as the biggest threat to youth development.
“We further need to ensure that the youth prepare themselves to be fitting successors to the generations that liberated our country and begin the process of its construction and development,” he said.
Makwetla challenged the youth, saying that while the previous generations of youth fought for the liberation of the country, those of today have to decide for themselves the cause that they stand for.
Echoing the deputy minister’s sentiments, Ekurhuleni executive mayor Mondli Gungubele, said Ekurhuleni has committed itself to pushing the frontiers of youth underdevelopment, through the provision of bursaries, internships and experiential training opportunities at the municipality and private sector organisations.
Gungubele challenged the youth to fight for racial harmony in the country, saying the 1976 youths were not fighting against a non-black race, but rather a system of oppression.
“To become non-racial is not a luxury but a necessity,” he added.
“Non-racialism is the only option, because the future generations will not survive without it.
Our success in this country will not be judged by the number of roads and bridges we build, but on the degree of non-racialism, unity and non-sexism.
“We can have wealth, but that wealth will be used conquer one another.
“The youth, then, did not fight racially exclusive oppressors with racially exclusive resistance, but their militancy was towards a non-racial South Africa.
