Source: President of South Africa –
Programme Director, Honourable Ms R. Nkonyane;
Acting Premier of Mpumalanga, Honourable Moeketsi;
Honourable Deputy Speaker and Acting Speaker, S. Masango;
Members of the Executive Council;
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature;
Executive Mayor of Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Councillor N.G. Zuma;
Representatives of political parties represented in this Youth Parliament;
Representatives of the various traditional councils present;
Representatives of Government departments and public entities;
Leaders of youth formations;
Students, entrepreneurs, young professionals and community activists;
Distinguished guests;
Good morning/ sanibonani.
It is a privilege to join you today during Youth Month as we gather for the Mpumalanga Youth Parliament 2026. I would like to begin by congratulating the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature for continuing to provide this platform for young people to engage directly with government, interrogate policy implementation, and contribute meaningfully to the future direction of our democracy.
In a society that seeks to deepen participation and strengthen accountability, forums such as this are not ceremonial events. They are essential democratic instruments that bring government closer to the people it serves.
The significance of this gathering is amplified by the fact that it takes place during June, a month that occupies a special place in the history of our country. We pause to remember the actions of 16 June 1976, when thousands of young people took to the streets to challenge an unjust system and demand a better future. The courage displayed by that generation 50 years ago, transformed our country forever.
Many of those young people were not much older than the participants gathered in this hall today. They did not possess wealth, political office or institutional power. Yet they understood a truth that continues to resonate across generations: that young people have the capacity to shape history when they organise, participate and refuse to be silent in the face of injustice.
As we reflect on the sacrifices of 1976 on this 50th anniversary, it is important that we do not reduce their contribution to a single day of remembrance. The true legacy of the youth of 1976 lies not only in what they protested against, but in what they stood for.
They stood for dignity. They stood for equality. They stood for access to education. They stood for opportunity. They stood for the belief that young people should have a voice in determining the future of their country.
Today, the responsibility of our generation is different, but it is no less important. The youth of 1976 fought for freedom. The youth of 2026 must use that freedom to build prosperous communities, strengthen democratic institutions, hold leaders accountable and create opportunities for future generations. They fought to secure a democratic South Africa. We must now ensure that our democracy delivers on its promise for a better life for all.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year’s theme challenges us to move beyond speeches, slogans and aspirations. It challenges us to ask a fundamental question: are we doing enough to ensure that government commitments translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of young people?
This is precisely why Youth Parliament matters.
Youth Parliament exists because democracy cannot be reduced to voting every five years. A healthy democracy requires continuous engagement between citizens and the institutions that serve them. It requires citizens who ask questions. It requires leaders who provide answers. It requires transparency, accountability and active participation.
The concept behind this Youth Parliament recognises that young people continue to face serious challenges, including unemployment, poverty, economic exclusion, unequal access to opportunities and social vulnerability.
At the same time, it recognises that young people are not merely beneficiaries of government programmes. They are partners in development. They are stakeholders in governance. They are active participants in shaping public policy and monitoring implementation.
For many years, Youth Parliament has provided an important platform through which young people have influenced public discourse and contributed to policy development. The impact of youth activism and youth engagement can be seen in numerous initiatives that have transformed opportunities for young South Africans.
We have seen the establishment of institutions dedicated to youth development, including the National Youth Development Agency, Youth Directorates at Provincial and Municipal level, and other interventions aimed at expanding opportunities for young people. These achievements remind us that youth voices matter and that organised youth participation can influence the direction of public policy.
Programme Director,
As we approach the 2026 Local Government Elections, we must confront a reality that there are many young South Africans who are uncertain about whether participating in elections still makes a difference. Many feel frustrated by the pace of change in their communities. Others question whether their vote has any real impact on the challenges they face every day.
Some have become disillusioned by instances of poor service delivery, unemployment, inequality and unfulfilled promises. These feelings are real and they should not be dismissed. If we are serious about strengthening our democracy, we must acknowledge these frustrations honestly and engage with them directly.
At the same time, we must be careful not to allow frustration to become disengagement. There is a significant difference between being disappointed and becoming detached from the democratic process.
The greatest mistake that young people can make is to conclude that because change has been slower than expected, participation no longer matters. The truth is that democracy does not stop functioning when citizens choose not to participate.
Decisions continue to be made. Budgets continue to be approved. Development priorities continue to be determined. Councillors continue to be elected. Municipal projects continue to move forward. The only difference is that those decisions are made without the input of the very people who are most affected by them.
This is why I want to make a direct appeal to every young person gathered here today. Register to vote. Ensure that your name appears on the voters’ roll. Verify your details. Make use of the online platforms that have been created to make registration easier and more accessible.
However, registration alone is not enough. Registration is only the first step. Once you have registered, you must also vote. A democracy cannot be strengthened by people who are registered but absent on Election Day. The true power of citizenship lies not only in having the right to vote, but in exercising that right.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We must also challenge the misconception that democracy begins and ends at the ballot box. Elections are important, but elections are only one part of democratic participation. In many respects, the real work begins after the votes have been counted. The quality of our democracy depends not only on who we elect, but also on how actively citizens remain engaged once those leaders assume office.
Too often, communities only become active when election campaigns begin. Political parties arrive. Manifestos are distributed. Meetings are held. Promises are made. Once the election has passed, many citizens withdraw from public life and wait another five years before engaging again.
This approach weakens accountability and limits the ability of communities to influence development outcomes. Active citizenship requires continuous engagement throughout the electoral cycle.
Young people must therefore participate in the structures that influence decision-making at local level. They must attend ward meetings. They must participate in public consultations. They must engage with municipal planning processes. They must contribute to Integrated Development Plans. They must familiarise themselves with municipal budgets and development priorities. They must understand how decisions are made and how resources are allocated. Most importantly, they must ensure that the voices of young people are represented whenever decisions affecting their communities are being discussed.
When a municipality announces a housing project, young people should ask what progress has been made six months later. When commitments are made regarding roads, water infrastructure, sports facilities, libraries or community development programmes, young people should continue asking questions long after the announcement has been made. Accountability does not begin when a project is launched. Accountability begins when citizens demand evidence that implementation is taking place.
More importantly, young people must demand their stake in all development aspects of society. We must demand adequate youth representation in all spheres of Government. The notion of “nothing about us. Without us” must become our rallying call.
As young people of Mpumalanga, you must demand to see the Office of the Premier improve the Youth Fund, to ensure you have improved access to funding. You must track whether all government departments are successfully setting aside thirty percent of their procurement for companies owned by young people.
You must monitor efforts to lobby the Department of Mineral Resources so that at least 30% of mining rights in the Province are allocated to local mining committees to benefit the youth.
And finally, you must ensure the Department of Economic Development and Tourism delivers on conducting at least three workshops per district in the 2026/27 financial year to train youth-owned enterprises.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Commemorations and speeches are no longer enough. To achieve this, government is stepping in decisively. We are shifting from policy discussions to aggressive implementation through the launch of five major, government-backed Catalytic Youth Empowerment Projects. These interventions are designed to physically alter the economic landscape for young South Africans. Let me briefly explain what these interventions entail.
The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), in partnership with the National Youth Service (NYS), is officially calling on 100,000 young South Africans to step forward.
What is this program?
This is not just a temporary fix; it is a launch-pad. The PYEI and NYS initiative is designed to transition you from unemployment into the active economy. By joining this cohort of 100,000, you are signing up to serve your country, uplift your community, and, most importantly, build your own future.
Here is exactly what the program delivers:
• Through Meaningful Community Service – You will be placed in roles that directly improve your local communities from education and public health to infrastructure and social development.
• By gaining Real-World Skills Development – You won’t just be working; you will be receiving formal training, mentorship, and practical experience that makes you highly employable once the program ends.
• And for Financial Support – You will receive a monthly stipend. You will earn while you learn, giving you the dignity and financial breathing room to plan your next steps.
We also invite you to register on SAYouth.Mobi which is a 100% data-free national online network that connects unemployed South African youth aged 15 to 34 with free job, learning, volunteering, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Since inception, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative has facilitated access to more than 2.36 million earning opportunities. Importantly, over 70% of the opportunities accessed through SA Youth have been taken up by young women, helping close historical gender gaps.
Furthermore, to ensure our youth are not left behind in the global digital economy, government is rolling out iamtheCODE. This intervention targets 600,000 young people, deliberately prioritising young women in our most rural and marginalised communities.
Through a 12-week blended STEAMD curriculum, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Design; we are providing direct digital skills training, e-courses, and global mentorship to bridge the digital divide.
Second, as cyber threats grow globally, South Africa currently loses billions annually to cybercrime. We are turning this vulnerability into an employment opportunity through the CSIR Cybersecurity intervention. The government will recruit and train unemployed graduates in Computer Science and Mathematics, with the explicit goal of incubating and launching 2,000 tech-led, youth-owned cybersecurity start-ups. We are empowering the youth to become the digital defenders of our national infrastructure.
Third, we are launching GRIT Lab Africa, a massive push into Artificial Intelligence and future tech. Over the next three years, the government will absorb 10,000 unemployed graduates into this program. This includes deploying an ‘AI Instructors Brigade’ to teach coding and robotics in under-resourced public schools, and providing AI innovation tools to youth-owned SMMEs so they can scale their businesses and create further employment.
Finally, we must industrialise our agricultural sector. Through the South African National Service Initiative (SANSI), the government is launching a massive skills massification program focused on Goat and Sheep development. This is not just training; it is ownership. We are taking intakes of 5,000 graduates, training them for 18 months, and providing them with a starter pack of 52 animals and state veterinary support. Through local hubs, this intervention will absorb 50,000 youth recruits annually, giving them a direct stake in the agricultural economy.
Combined, Phase 1 of these government interventions will directly impact over 737,000 young lives.
Comrades, the renewal of the national project is the task of this generation.
Fellow young people,
The future is calling. We must ensure that when we mark 50 years since 1976, we are not just remembering the past, but actively building a working, thriving, and empowered youth.
South Africa needs a new generation of young leaders who understand both the challenges facing our communities and the opportunities available to transform them. We need young leaders who are committed to ethical leadership, public service and community development. We need young leaders who are prepared to engage difficult issues and work collaboratively to solve problems. We need young leaders who understand that leadership is not about status or titles, but about service and impact.
Ladies and gentlemen,
None of these aspirations will be realised if young people remain isolated from one another.
Throughout history, meaningful change has been driven by organised people working together around a common purpose. The generation of 1976 was organised.
The challenge before young people today is therefore not simply to participate as individuals. The challenge is to organise collectively around the issues that matter most.
Young people must organise around education. They must organise around entrepreneurship. They must organise around community development. They must organise around volunteerism. They must organise around environmental sustainability. They must organise around innovation and technological advancement. Most importantly, they must organise themselves around doing good and creating positive change within their communities.
The youth of 1976 did not have a cellphone, a TikTok, Facebook, Instagram or X account, nor did they have NYDA or SMME funding, they had a conviction and a song. Under those circumstances, they managed to put their country on a course for total liberation for me and you to here today.
The future that we seek to build will not be delivered to us by others. It will be built through the collective efforts of citizens who choose to participate, contribute and lead.
The question before us is therefore not whether young people have the power to shape South Africa’s future. The question is whether they are prepared to use that power.
Amandla!!
