SALGA commemorates youth month

Theme: “The year of OR Tambo: Advancing Youth Economic Empowerment”

Posted: 14 June 2017

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During the 5th SALGA National Conference the following resolutions on youth in Local Government were made:

• Establishment of SALGA Youth Commission
• Establishment of youth business chambers in every municipality
• Provide capacity development for youth at all levels
• Advocate for youth directed support and activities
• Create platforms for youth dialogues
• Apply an integrated approach to youth issues

As part of the Youth Month and to unleash youth development, SALGA in collaboration with other stakeholders in the Local Government Youth Development Forum i.e. the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Gauteng Provincial Government, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), South African Youth Council (SAYC), Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), South African Youth Chamber of Commerce (SAYCC), Local Government Skills Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) and Afrika Leadership Development Institute (LeadAfrika), have agreed to host the first Local Government Youth Development Conference under the theme: “Young people taking charge in leading development”. 

The conference will serve as a platform for all the youth development practitioners from local, district and metropolitan municipalities to debate the National Youth Policy 2020, Youth Employment Accord and the Integrated Youth Development Strategy 2020.  The conference will also create an opportunity to build effective partnerships between all the relevant stakeholders including youth-led organisations and youth movements to further strengthen inclusive youth participation in the decision-making processes and implementation of the Youth development programmes.

The Conference will provide a platform for discussions to unpack the National Youth Policy 2020 with specific focus on the five thematic areas:

• Economic participation and transformation
• Education and second chances
• Health care and combating substance abuse
• Nation-building and social cohesion
• Effective and responsive youth development machinery

The expected outcomes of the Conference include:

• Enhanced intergenerational dialogue to strengthen Youth participation in the metropolitan, district and local municipalities.
• Increased commitment to the National Youth Policy 2020 with effective participation of young people.
• Prioritisation of the Integrated Youth Development Strategies for metropolitan, district and local municipalities.

The scourge of poverty and unemployment continue to imprison young people despite the implementation of various policies, strategies and programmes targeting youth development and advancement.  According to the recently published report by Stats SA, the unemployment rate in South Africa increased to 27.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017 from 26.5 percent in the previous period and Youth unemployment rate, stands at 50.9%.  It is the highest jobless rate since the first quarter of 2004 as unemployment rose faster than employment and more people joined the labour force.  To address these high levels of unemployment particularly among the youth cohort, extraordinary measures will be required.
The government and our society as a whole must do everything possible to ensure that all our young people have access to education and training, that we reduce youth unemployment and poverty, and that we instil pride and patriotism among all young people for being South African.  The importance of the youth to the stability and wellbeing of South Africa as cannot be underestimated!

The Conference will take place Tuesday 20 – Wednesday 21 June 2017 at the Misty Hills Country Hotel, Muldersdrift Estate, Johannesburg.