Pretoria – Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Buti Manamela, says in order to address the high levels of youth unemployment, innovative youth entrepreneurs and youth co-operatives are needed.
“We need fresh ideas that must propel young people to find a niche in the economy and transform it,” he said on Thursday.
Addressing the Lotto/Young Independent’s event held, in Johannesburg, Deputy Minister Manamela said the levels of entrepreneurship uptake among South African youth are still far too low when compared to the country’s BRICS counterparts and other middle income developing countries.
Deputy Minister Manamela said out of 10 young people walking into the National Youth Development Agency offices, at least eight are looking for a job, only two are interested in entrepreneurship.
“Young people have to be creators of jobs and not only seeking jobs,” he said.
He encouraged the youth to make education fashionable.
“We have to improve the access to education, and at the same time we have to improve the quality of education,” he said.
The Deputy Minister also encouraged the youth to emulate the 1976 generation who were selfless.
“The brave, heroic activism of the youth of 1976 and the young lions of the 1980's paved the way for a youth voice. The voice of the youth has broken through,” he said.
He said as a result of the 1976 generation, today, young people are consulted on key government policies and initiatives, their voices matter and their views must be heard. – SAnews.gov.za
