Tomorrow, the DA Youth will commemorate Youth Day at events across the country where our young DA members will gather to reflect on the progress we have made as democratic South Africa and the journey ahead for jobs and growth that are desperately needed.
Only through a growing economy, that creates jobs for young people, will the youth have a truly dignified place in the future of South Africa. After decades of economic sabotage and neglect, by previous administrations, our young South Africans are forced to bear the brunt of unemployment, with the highest youth unemployment rate in the world. We are hopeful with the GNU at the helm that the tide is turning, and the time for growth and jobs is now!
We will be watching closely as national government events mark Youth Day. We expect to see plans for the real challenges of today’s youth.
Primarily, we remain very concerned that there is a dangerous combination of high unemployment and a scourge of crime and drugs in so many of our communities that put youth at risk.
More can be done to improve access to education, with financial barriers to universities and colleges existing. And worse, we are concerned about capacity challenges at institutions of higher learning.
For those who cannot pay their own way, we are expecting to hear solutions to the multiple failures at NSFAS, including failures to pay for student allowances and accommodation.
How can it be in 2025 that our students are still being evicted from their residential accommodation at universities and colleges because the NSFAS simply fails to pay what it promises?
We remain critically concerned about the rising levels of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) including femicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault on young people.
Violence against women and girls, taking advantage of young people, and the normalization of violence and rampant abuse, requires a solution. And for survivors of GBV, the safe spaces that they need must be freely and readily available.
This Youth Day, we expect to hear about a clampdown on crime, violence, gender-based violence and on the scourge of drugs and gangsterism that is terrorising young people. Socioeconomic deprivation and a lack of recreational facilities are root causes of some of these ills.
Come Monday 16 June, as we commemorate Youth Day, the DA Youth will be listening for answers to the concerns shared by youth across South Africa.
Government can and must give answers.