eMba youth celebrate June 16

Chairman of ANC Youth League says they are against people who see themselves in power and decides to shut down young people’s businesses.

June 24, 2015

Levhuwani Matumba 2 minutes read

ANC Regional Executive Leadership with the ANC Youth League committee at the Maphala Gulube Primary School during the 16 June commemoration.

The youth of eMbalenhle gathered at the Maphala Gulube Primary School to celebrate Youth Day.

The aim was to commemorate the 1976 youth from Soweto who protested against the apartheid-run education system.

Mpumalanga Premier Mr David Mabuza in his 2015 Policy and Budget Speech said: “As we honour those young people who selflessly fought and died for freedom and the creation of a democratic state, we must acknowledge the youth of today whose activism is not trained on the socio economic challenges that confronts us all, which is poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, economic freedom and the development of our country and its citizens, in all their diversity,”

He further said the office of the Premier, through its special programmes unit, will coordinate a series of events in line with the National Youth Development Agency (Nyda) Youth Month programme under the theme Youth Action for Economic Freedom in our Lifetime.

The Govan Mbeki municipal MMC for Technical Services, Ms Ethel Nkosi, Ward 10 Councillor, Ms Johanna Ndlovu, and other ANC leadership of the Govan Mbeki Municipality attended the event.

Ms Sindisiwe Sibeko, YCL SA District Chairman, said June 16 is not all about the ANC youth, the Azapo youth or the EFF youth, but it is about the youth of South Africa, irrespective of the organisations they are affiliated to.

In his speech, the chairman of the Govan Mbeki municipal ANC Youth League, Mr Edward “Obama” Letsimo, said he is worried about today’s youth who celebrate June 16 by consuming alcohol while wearing school uniforms.

Mr Letsimo encouraged young people to take education serious.

“Next year I am also going to further my studies,” said Mr Letsimo.

He is concerned about the increasing number of school drop outs.

He further said the ANC Youth League is also planning to have matric awards by January 2016.

Mr Letsimo said they heard there are people who want to remove a group of young people who began a car wash business.

“As the ANC Youth League we are against the mind-set of people who see themselves in power and decide to shut down businesses run by young people.”

During the commemoration young people were encouraged to test for HIV/Aids and were led by the Youth Executive Committee during a test by Humana People to People HIV/Aids testing agency.

The Youth League thanked the Young Communist League of SA District Executive Committee, Sasco Province and Regional Committee, Regional Executive Committee of the ANC, ANC Women’s League Ward 10, SACP Ward 10, Qabiso Burial Society and the Foreign National Shops for their support.