Youth Council follows ‘Big Brother’
Divison also rocks Endumeni Youth Council - just like it does the ‘Big Council’
ension loomed at a youth meeting aimed at combating issues that affect the youth of Endumeni. The gathered youth requested for the re-election of new members to lead the Endumeni Youth Council (EYC), as they argued that the structure is an interim structure, and therefore cannot lead for five years.
Melusi Ndima, Chairperson of the EYC, welcomed the request and promised to forward it to the Endumeni Social Development office, as they are the body which they report to, and the initiators of the programme.
However, the meeting could not carry on for the purpose it was to serve, which was to discuss and find possible solutions to issues that affect the youth in the area.
It was forced to adjourn due to the exchange of insults by the gathered youth and members of the youth council.
The chairperson left the meeting, but returned shortly thereafter. He mentioned that, “The meeting was being individualised by certain people who had their own agendas.”
Not given feedback
The Endumeni Youth Council was formed in 2011, as a body to liaise with the municipality and engage the youth in the area by addressing issues that affect them directly. According to EYC members, it was difficult to pursue certain tasks as everything went via the Endumeni council for resolutions to be taken: “We were not given feedback.”
One incident that put them off was a task they were assigned to peform by the Social Development office. They had to visit each ward in Endumeni and profile the youth as to what they wanted within their communities.
“We could not fulfil that, because we had no transport to do the visitations. We asked the municipality for help, but to no avail,” said Melusi.
He also mentioned that there were other proposals forwarded to the municipality, pertaining to youth development, but they were ‘not supported because of political interests’.
Thubelihle Dlamini, another member of the EYC, argued that she was not told about the meeting. She said that the structure had only one task to deliver to the youth, which was to visit all wards and talk to the youth, “But we failed to do so,” she explained.
Adjourning of the meeting left others disappointed and disconsolate. One said what happened in the meeting was unfair, because they were there to hear about improvements and how they were going to be assisted with serious issues that affect them (the youth), such as the issues of bursaries. Instead the structure was fighting within itself. After the meeting some ANC officials, as well as the youths wearing ANC T-shirts, were singing and chanting outside the Moth Hall.
