President Jacob Zuma praised the National Youth Development Agency for its work in improving the lives of young people, but remained baffled by people who torched public buildings to complain about services.
“It is still baffling as to why someone would torch down a clinic because they do not have a school or destroy a library because the water taps have run dry,” said Zuma in a speech prepared for delivery on Youth Day in Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga, on Wednesday.
He said it was much easier to destroy than to build, and that every facility was an investment for future generations.
“I appeal to our youth to be vigilant against these criminal elements,” said Zuma, as he marked the 34th anniversary of the Soweto student uprising.
He said it was important not to forget the “commanding significance” of the event on June 16 1976 and the past and future role of the youth.
This was why it was “very much distressing” to see people still burning schools and other facilities, as they did recently in Ganyesa in the North West.
But, he said the country was making progress towards addressing youth issues through the work of the year-old NYDA. It had helped create more than 30 000 jobs, issued more than 4 000 business support vouchers, and had helped improve access of the youth to funds.
About 7 000 loans, amounting to R23-million, were disbursed to microfinance enterprises and more than R3-million was also given out to small and medium enterprises.
About 40 000 beneficiaries were enrolled in skills development and community service for the current financial year.
The National Youth Service programme enrolled 16 000 young people in several projects, and in the 2010/11 financial year, young volunteers built 76 houses, symbolising the year 1976, for indigent families in Ivory Park, Gauteng.
They are also planning to build 34 houses, symbolising 34 years since 1976 in Mpumalanga and refurbish selected schools in all nine provinces during Youth Month.
Zuma said the NYDA should move quickly to establish branches in all parts of the country to increase access to its services.
“It is important to continue to rally behind the activities of the youth, and for the NYDA to reach all the sections of the youth population everywhere in this country,” he said. — Sapa