Jacob Zuma said the youth needed to be reminded of affirmative action and black economic empowerment. (Delwyn Verasamy, M&G)
The ANC Youth League needs to work with the government to help the youth to obtain employment and training opportunities, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday.
"The National Youth Accord that was negotiated and signed between business, government, labour and the community sectors, especially the youth, in April this year, is designed to help alleviate the question of youth training and employment," he said.
"Government is also processing the Employment Tax Incentive Bill through which, when it becomes law, employers will benefit from tax incentives when hiring young workers, but without displacing older workers."
Zuma was making a speech, prepared for delivery, at the ANCYL's 69th anniversary celebration in Seshego, Polokwane, in Limpopo.
The Bill was still being discussed by the Cabinet, but the ANCYL was urged to work closely with the government, the National Youth Development Agency and employer organisations on the project.
Zuma said the youth needed to be reminded of affirmative action and black economic empowerment, which had successfully benefited many black business people and professionals.
These needed to be used further as transformation tools, he said.
Employment Equity Act
"The ANC government has put before Parliament a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment [B-BBEE] Amendment Bill to further enhance transformation," he said.
"Amongst the proposals put forward is the introduction of a commission that will oversee, supervise and promote adherence to the B-BBEE Act and codes in the interest of the public."
The ANC-led government had also put in place progressive laws such as the Employment Equity Act.
"Let us use these instruments to change our country for the better."
Returning the dignity and discipline within the ANCYL was important in rebuilding the trust and respect of the people, said Zuma.
"We congratulate the national task team on the work done thus far in rebuilding the structures of the ANCYL.
"The anniversary reminds us of the need to build the type of ANCYL that young people and the country as a whole can look up to with admiration, inspiration and respect."
Wronged and insulted
On Tuesday, the ANCYL apologised to everyone it had wronged and insulted in the recent past.
The national task team convenor Mzwandile Masina, who was speaking at the ANCYL's anniversary celebration in Johannesburg, called on members to refrain from making "reckless" statements in the name of the ANCYL.
"Being militant for the sake of being militant does not help us, comrades. We apologise because we think that it is revolutionary that we do so." – Sapa