Youth in Construction summit in Brixton
The purpose of the event is to expose young people to future opportunities in the construction industry.
The office of the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso hosted the first of its kind in the City Youth in Construction summit on Wednesday, June 29 at the Brixton Recreational Centre.
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The purpose of the event is to expose young people to future opportunities in the construction industry after the MMC identified a gap between key stakeholders in the sector and young people.
“Today’s events presents us an opportunity for us to reflect on our mandate and calling as leaders of society,” Mabaso began his address calling on those in positions of authority to create platforms for young people to deliberate and engage in finding solutions to challenges.
Mabasao said he believed young people were capable of finding solutions for themselves and hoped the summit would initiate change in the construction sector to accommodate young people to effectively participate.
“Today’s summit must trigger shared concerns and abilities of the sector to pave a new way that will see young people actively participating and incubated accordingly.
“We need to identify barriers, look at government legislations if they are conductive for young people to participate and grow within the building sector.
“Are the frameworks and regulations making it difficult? Do the 30% guidelines for SMMEs address the problem?
“How do we participate in private development? Is it possible for us to grow through private developments?” Mabaso asked.
Executive Mayor of the city, Mpho Phalatse delivered the Keynote address and said her office was heeding the call for the inclusion of young people.
“The prevalent message is that the youth want to be seen, they want to be heard and they want to be afford the space and the opportunity to excel.
“We believe that young people need to be part of decision making on a day to day basis because that’s the only way we going to see youth representation across the board in the city on an on-going base.
“Today’s summit hosted by the MMC, is evidence of our seriousness as the city to see the inclusion of young people in the mainstream economy and in key decision making.”
Mayor Phalatse called for a creative and new outlook at finding innovative ways to address the housing backlog in the city.
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Currently, about 450 000 people waiting for free houses from the City. She called on the youth at the summit to lead
“We all agree that we have a crisis on our hands. The demand is huge and the supply not being able to meet that demand,” she said.
“I am hoping after this summit we will have some great ideas for the young people in this space on how we can begin to do things differently so that we will be able to do more with the few resources that we have.”
The Mayor also used her address to highlight some of the city’s projects that will become effective as of July1 when the new budget kicks in.
These include the building of 2500 low rent and ready to buy units in mixed income developments and 895 social housing units.
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