We will keep fighting for the Youth Wage Subsidy
Note to Editors: This extract is based on a speech delivered by the DA Youth Leader, Mbali Ntuli, at the DA's commemoration rally for its march to COSATU House.
One year ago today, a group of young South Africans gathered to make their voices heard.
We gathered to demand employment opportunities for the youth. There were over 5000 of us. We were peaceful. We marched for our rights to employment and dignity. We marched because we wanted our voices to be heard.
We marched for a better future.
We never made it to our final destination. Instead, our voices were silenced with violence.
We were an inconvenient reminder of what government has failed to achieve for young people. And we saw how government was willing to ignore the plea of young people- and how its political allies in COSATU were willing suppress these pleas with violence and intimidation.
But there is no way government or COSATU can suppress the truth of how South Africa mistreats it young people. From a young age, our young people are systematically disadvantaged:
- Why is it that only 35% of children who start school ever pass Matric?
- Why are more than 10,000 unqualified teachers teaching our children?
- Why can only half of Grade 3 learners read and write?
- Why is our Maths and Science education second last in the world?
- How can 60% of Grade 6 teachers not pass a Grade 6 test?
- Why have we waited almost two years to get textbooks delivered?
- Why are 50% of our young people unemployed?
Even that small minority who overcomes these challenges will find that life under this government is no easier. NSFAS, which should empower students, has become an obstacle under this government. Our students who work so hard to get into university find that when they arrive they can barely get the skills they require to succeed in the workplace. Even those who manage to get a decent university education find that government's economic policies makes finding jobs harder, not easier.
Given all these facts, we must ask ourselves why government still refuses to implement the youth wage subsidy. This policy would create thousands of jobs for young people, yet it has simply been put on hold.
It is intolerable that our democratically elected government puts COSATU's agenda ahead of our future. COSATU is the real enemy of youth empowerment because the union bosses know that young workers are tired of their nonsense.
COSATU is not a political party. If COSATU wants to make policy, then it must contest elections. It must not threaten us with strikes and violent behaviour.
Even some ANC Ministers know the Youth Wage Subsidy is a good plan. Pravin Gordhan put aside 5 billion rand for it. COSATU must not be allowed to hijack this policy. We want the Youth Wage Subsidy as it was originally tabled and we will not accept anything less.
In every generation, there are young people who fight for the next level of freedom. Like those who fought for political freedom in 1976, our generation must now fight for economic opportunity.
The DA Youth, under my leadership, will be a fearless advocate and fighter for the delivery of economic opportunity to all young South Africans. I commit myself and the organisation I was elected to lead this cause.
Our opponents can threaten our lives and throw their stones. We will not be moved. If the government will not stand for young people's economic freedom, then the DA and the DA Youth will.
I am proud of what we did then, and I am proud of what we do now. The fight continues.
We must mobilise, we must educate, we must debate, we must register and then we must vote. Young people will never be silenced.
Issued by the DA, May 15 2013
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