Vol 03 Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Issue 03, 2021 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 INSESSION NEWS Youth Day - Parliament calls on young people to help SA defeat covid19 and rebuild the economy Parliament’s Presiding Officers, led by Speaker of the National Assembly Ms Thandi Modise and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Mr Amos Masondo, joined the nation in commemorating Youth Day. The historic event of 16 June Additionally, the Labour Force Fourth Industrial Revolution efforts will help build a 1976 still echoes in our minds Survey indicates a rise in the were amongst issues sharply better quality of life for all as it remains immortalised in unemployment rate, meaning raised in the 2020 youth young people free from all South Africa. Young people the official unemployment parliament. Young people social ills”, said the Presiding of South Africa rejected the rate among the youth (18 advocated for the overhaul Officers. brutal apartheid system -34 years) stands at 46.3 per of the education system and As we mark Youth Day, by mobilising themselves cent in the first quarter of the strengthening of the Parliament urges South and peacefully taking to 2021. The rate of unemployed TVET colleges. It will help Africans to work for hand in the streets demanding university graduates stands at mainstream them to be ‘job glove with the government that their voices be heard. 9.3%. creators rather than ‘job and help curb the spread The march was against an This scenario has caused the seeker’. of COVID-19. As the country unjust education system Sixth Parliament to prioritise Young people also called for moved back to alert level-3 to aimed at undermining and skills development through widened opportunities to learn curb the spread of infections, restricting their intellectual its constitutional mandate skills and optimise the Fourth the Presiding Officers called development. The cruel to oversee executive action. Industrial Revolution. As such, on all citizens, young people apartheid system violently Most of this work is done at to ensure that issues receive in particular, to adhere to all retaliated, killing many committee level, also known the necessary attention, one health safety protocols. unarmed young people. The as Parliament’s engine rooms of the mechanisms employed “We owe it to the 1976 young event became a defining where government ministers by Parliament to establish liberators to ensure that we moment in the history of and senior government progress on work done by build the South Africa of South Africa serving as a officials are held accountable the ministers is through our dreams free from the stark reminder to all that for their actions. ministerial briefing sessions. pandemic and social ills. We democracy was achieved Further, through its In August, the National shall overcome this traumatic through bloodshed and constitutional mandate of Council of Provinces will period because we are a sacrifice. providing a national forum have a Ministerial Briefing nation of hope. We want According to the Presiding for public consideration of Session on Youth Poverty young people to be at the Officers “there is no doubt issues, the hosting of the and Unemployment themed: helm, driving the economic that young people in South youth parliament helps “Interventions to address recovery post the pandemic. Africa today face a myriad young people bring to the youth unemployment and It is possible as the young of challenges, including the fore their challenges. In poverty”. people are ready to exploit high rate of unemployment return, Parliament can gauge “Through our constitutional all opportunities provided by accompanied by various forms the pulse of the youth and mandate and power, the pandemic through the 4th of social ills, poverty and the activate a programme of Parliament commits to Industrial revolution”, added difficulties associated with the action. addressing issues affecting the Presiding Officers. COVID-19 pandemic.” Skills development and the young people. Our collective YOUTH DAY DEBATE 3 NCOP Youth Day Debate – SA Youth are central to meeting the goals of the NDP Editor The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) held a debate to mark Youth Day on the theme: Brent Simons Youth Development Through Access to Higher Education and Expanded Access to Skills Production editor Development, writes Abel Mputing. Speakers affirmed the centrality of South African youth Mava Lukani in the developmental agenda and political future of the South African youth. Design and layout MIND TRIX MEDIA inclusive growth. Copy editors Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula Another NCOP delegate, Writers Ms Brenda Mathevula, Mava Lukani, Abel Mputing, said today’s youth are still Sakhile Mokoena, Sureshinee Govender, Malatswa Molepo, subjected to the same Sibongile Maputi, Rajaa Azzakani hardships as 45 years ago. “They are still getting shot and Photography Mlandeli Puzi, arrested by government when Zwelethemba Kostile they call for equal and free education.” Like before, she Distribution & subscriptions Jacqueline Zils said it’s still the black youth in underprivileged communities Publisher Parliament of the Republic of in rural areas that are South Africa compelled to study under the trees, in mud schools, Printer Vision Enterprises with no textbooks and to be subjected to unqualified Section Manager: Publishing and Production teachers. Under these Shirley Montsho conditions, the black youth will continue to have no full Copyright INSESSION is is published by participation in the economy the Information and Content because they will remain Development Unit of the Parliamentary Communication unemployed, unemployable Services of the Parliament and uneducated. of the Republic of South Africa. All material published is In his opening address, the from poor backgrounds. Well “Many South African youth copyrighted and cannot be NCOP Delegate, Mr Stephenus reproduced without the written Deputy Minister of Higher over R25 billion has been set is born in poverty and find du Toit, said despite all the permission of the publisher. Education, Mr Buti Manamela, aside to support students in it difficult to have access to huge investment in education, reminded that this year’s universities for textbooks and tertiary education. And if they EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES billions of rands go to waste Telephone 021 403 8738 celebration marks 25 years living expenses.” do and are qualified, they due to mismanagement in the Fax 021 403 8096 since the adoption of a can’t find decent jobs because E-mail sector. This has affected the [email protected] democratic Constitution and To prepare the youth for this economy can’t carry their youth’s skills development Subscriptions 45 years after the outbreak of the challenges of the Fourth hopes.” programmes and led to the [email protected] the June16 Soweto Uprising. Industrial Revolution, the Post loss of job opportunities. PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000 The government’s primary department has heightened She advised the government However, he urged young goal, he said, is to ensure that its investment in technology to encourage the youth to take OUR IDEALS people not to give up hope. the youth acquires education to avert the digital divide artisan careers to gain the Vision An activist and responsive and training to obtain the brought about by the advent necessary skills to “compete, A Member of the Mpumalanga people’s Parliament that skills necessary to meet of Covid-19 and to encourage to enter and stay in the labour improves the quality of life of Provincial Legislature, Mr South Africans and ensures the goals of the National the youth to acquire critical market. And to contribute Beki Lubes, advocated for the enduring equality in Development Plan (NDP). digital skills to curb skills in building our country’s our society. youth to be employed in the shortages in this constantly economy”. Strategic Objectives agricultural sector. This will Strengthening oversight and “We have a resolve to skill the expanding sector. ensure food security and make accountability; black youth by ensuring there One of the young delegates enhancing public involvement; them aware of the value deepening engagement in is an increased uptake of black However, during the debate, to the NCOP, Mr Itumeleng chain of this sector, the career international fora; youth in higher education many participants noted Ntsube, called for the strengthening cooperative paths and entrepreneurial to expand and address skills that the weak economy broadening of black economic government; opportunities it can afford strengthening legislative shortages that are needed and would struggle to carry the empowerment requirements them, and this will reduce the capacity. their active participation in the aspirations of the South to include the youth and rate youth unemployment. BOOK A TOUR labour market. This is linked African youth. Ms Karabo women. This will integrate To tour Parliament to the department’s increase Khahau of the Free State them into the mainstream Mr Mbulelo Bara called on Telephone 021 403 2266 of funding for black students Provincial Legislature said: economy and bring about E-mail [email protected] the private sector to invest 4 INSESSION NEWS in technical colleges to marked the instant arousal improve their standards and Struggle stalwart of political consciousness make them the institutions among the oppressed and of choice for the youth. He was given