Soweto - Communications Deputy Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has encouraged the youth to be active citizens, saying it will enable them to contribute towards tackling the development challenges they face.
Whilst the country remembers the youth of 1976 this Youth Month and draw on their principles and commitment to a better tomorrow, Deputy Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams acknowledged that while theirs was a fight for political freedom, today’s youth is faced with a different struggle, one which is to ensure economic freedom in their lifetime.
“We want to call upon all young people to make it a point that they play their part and that they do not just look at what is happening and not take action. They should not to be armchair critics but to be part of the revolution that we are driving so that all of us enjoy the economic freedom that we long for and move the country forward,” she told SAnews on Wednesday.
She was speaking at the premiere of the gripping television talk show – “Before Forever After” which will be broadcasted on Soweto TV DStv channel 251, every Wednesday.
Based on the latest book by Pastor Dick Koza, “Before we marry let’s talk”, the show is hosted by veteran presenter, “Mr Nims” Nimrod Nkosi.
The show according to executive producer Nthabeleng Mokitimi will see experts and couples engaging on those pertinent marital issues which are often overlooked, and yet ought to be discussed prior to getting married.
With the South African divorce rate at approximately 28%, the producers – which are youth - believe that the show comes at an opportune time when social cohesion, moral regeneration and rebuilding of families are at the helm of the nation’s discourse and agenda.
Deputy Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams acknowledged their work, saying with the youth such as these ones “the future of our country is in safe hands”.
Having enjoyed the one hour show, she said, the show triggered something she never thought about: “that for everybody to know where she or he wants to go to they must make sure that they are ready before, forever after”.
The Deputy Minister said it was particularly encouraging to note that in a modern society there is hope that religion and culture can co-exist.
“These are the principles which ought to be inculcated in our children from an early age, and together with the Department of Arts and Culture, we will ensure that we continue to create programmes and content which clearly articulate this point of departure.”
She also committed to engage with her colleagues in the Small Business Department and Arts and Culture, to ensure that the second season of this show obtains the requisite support and is able to reach a much wider audience.
The Deputy Minister also went on to acknowledge that the role of the community media in broadening and meeting the needs of communities.
“Government has been resolute that community media remains a cornerstone of our democracy as it provides communities with an alternative voice.”
Soweto TV is currently playing an imperative role in media transformation. The station currently attracts over 3.1 million viewers and employs over 100 people, of which 80% are local young people. – SAnews.gov.za
