Pretoria - In addition to leading the Youth Day commemoration, President Jacob Zuma will also embark on a Siyahlola visit to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) this month.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Cabinet said the Youth Day celebrations will be held under the theme “Youth moving South Africa forward”. Youth Month pays tribute to the school pupils who lost their lives during the 16 June 1976 uprising in Soweto.
Young people have also been called to participate in the Youth Walk in the City of Tshwane as part of the celebrations of Youth Day. “In pursuit of the Youth Month theme, we encourage youth to wear sneakers on Youth Day and participate in the Youth Walk taking place in the City of Tshwane, as a way of signifying or acknowledging their role in achieving the vision of this country," acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said on Thursday.
Siyahlola
President Zuma will also visit the TUT Soshanguve campus in Gauteng, on 23 June.
“This monitoring visit will focus on initiatives and interventions implemented to improve the lives of our youth and empower them to better participate in the economy of our country,” said Cabinet.
Cabinet called on young people to take advantage of opportunities offered by government programmes like the Community Works Programme. The programme demonstrates how partnerships make a difference to community infrastructure and services, and also grows work opportunities into sustainable jobs due to the transfer and development of skills.
“Through the National Youth Development Agency, more young people are also being brought into the mainstream economy through their programmes that provide support to young entrepreneurs.”
Public Service Day
In addition, South Africa will mark the continental wide celebrations of Africa Public Service Day.
The day will be commemorated under the theme “The Role of Public Services in Women Empowerment, Innovation and Accessible Service Delivery”.
Since 1994, South Africa has also made great strides with the representation of women in senior management positions in the Public Service, which was at 39.8 percent in March 2014.
World Refugee Day
Cabinet also called on South Africans to join government in reaffirming the country’s international commitment to treat all refugees with dignity.
As a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention and as a country that cherishes human rights, South Africa has an obligation to protect the basic rights of refugees within its borders.
“In many instances these are vulnerable men, women and children who have been forced to flee their homelands and have done so with great courage, strength and determination.”
60th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter
Cabinet further added that the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter will be marked on 26 June.
The Freedom Charter is a foundation on which South Africa’s world acclaimed Constitution is based.
The 60th anniversary will be used to demonstrate progress made towards realising its ideals, and to show alignment between government policies and this historic document,” said Cabinet. - SAnews.gov.za
