Features

For many years, children in Mvezo village in the Eastern Cape – the birthplace of former President Nelson Mandela – have been forced to drop out of school after passing Grade 9.

It is becoming a habit in South Africa to create a month to focus on a particular event or social issue which we mark in our national calendar. The month of June, which highlights June 16 as Youth Day, has become Youth Month and August 9, which marks Women’s Day, has turned the month of August into Women’s Month. The same goes for Human Rights Month and Heritage Month.

Even when he couldn’t remember most things, the one thing that the late former President Nelson Mandela constantly asked was: “Where are we with the children’s hospital?”

From the first Grade at school, it became clear that Marry-Jane Ntsiane had a learning challenge.

Bathandwa Mbola speaks to a survivor of the 1976 June 16 student revolt.

It has been 38 years since the youth of South Africa marched in all parts of the country – their steps directing and leading them on a journey toward a better education, a better South Africa and a better life. With the commemoration of June 16 upon us, the images of young bodies strewn in the streets of Soweto still resonate in the minds of many – but it was not in vain, writes Bathandwa Mbola.

Every year, hundreds of young people have to fight financial battles just to get a place at higher education institutions. Some give up on their dreams of having a career simply because they cannot afford steep study fees. But the new Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund, unveiled by the National Youth Development Agency recently, is set to bring hope to many needy students, writes Neo Semono.

Nthambeleni Gabara takes a look at how the lives of a few youngsters have changed in the North West – with the help of the National Youth Development Agency

While unemployment among young people has remained stubbornly high following the 2008 recession, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is beginning to see the positive impact of its varied interventions to ride out this socio-economic storm.

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies is beginning his second term in the portfolio with a renewed vigour to continue the implementation of South Africa’s Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) which has helped stabilise the country’s manufacturing sector in recent years.

After successfully staging its fifth democratic elections, South Africa will tomorrow witness the inauguration of President-elect Jacob Zuma, who will be sworn in for a second term in office at a ceremony to be held at the newly-named Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre, at the Union Buildings.

South Africa can once again be proud of itself as we successfully concluded our fifth democratic elections, the first since the passing of our inspirational and much loved Former President, Nelson Mandela. The elections presented a unique opportunity for all South African citizens to play their part in the democratic process, by using their hard fought-for right to vote and renewing their commitment to our country’s future development. Brand South Africa is grateful to each citizen for using their vote to make a difference, and for being part of this important and valued democratic process.

As the nation gets ready to go to the polls on Wednesday, we take a look at a few interesting stats about the country's fifth general election.

Very few young people consider farming and construction as an attractive career option. But for 29-year-old Colbert Mabasa from Mulamulele in Limpopo, it’s all he ever wanted to do. Nthambeleni Gabara finds out why.

Growing up, Khomotso Mamabolo witnessed various types of domestic abuse. Back then, she was still very young and could not do anything to assist the victims.