Today, the 16th of June is dedicated to the youth of our beleaguered Country, but there is very little to celebrate I hear them scream from the rooftops. They are so very tired of all the cliched PR spin and are demanding that their voices be heard for once. They are tired of hearing that the ” youth are the future” when their country is mired in poverty and unemployment and where the millions of job-seeking young folk, many with university degrees, continue to live below the breadline. Our unemployment rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of this year and is among the highest in the world with 61% of 15 to 24-year-olds and 39.9% of 25 to 34-year-olds currently jobless. If this is not tackled sooner rather than later we risk facing major repercussions. A vicious cycle is perpetuated which breeds hopelessness and despair for not only our youth but society at large.

What a sad indictment for a country with an overall education budget of almost R300 billion, one of the largest education budgets in the world by the standards of wealthier nations. So many of our children can barely read or write with 81% in Grade 4 unable to read for meaning.

Let us all uplift their voices, support their endeavours and honour their incredible resilience in the face of extreme hardship. Lets create a more supportive environment where their dreams and aspirations are realised and the enormous challenges they face, diminished.

So today we say to our precious young folk, the people of South Africa stand with you, we hear you and support you as you and only you, hold the key to a brighter future for all.