South African youth to speak
with one voice
Wednesday, July 30, 1997
South African youth are soon to speak
with one voice thanks to the formation of the South African Youth
Council (SAYC). This coordinating body of youth in civil society
willbe formed following a plenary meeting of youth organisations
including the ANC YouthLeague, the IFP Youth Brigade and the NP
Youth Action. The plenary was convened in April1997 by the National
Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
Twenty-six of the 27 youth organisations which attended the
plenary immediately signeda declaration of intent committing
themselves to the formation of a national youth body,and set up a
technical team to draft a founding document with the assistance of
the Nedlac secretariat.
Thirty-five national youth organisations have committed
themselves to the character,mission, objectives and strategies of
the national body.
The mission of the SAYC as an autonomous, non-partisan,
coordinating body of youth incivil society will be to:
- Set up SAYC provincial structures.
- Work towards the empowerment of all South African youth.
- Provide youth organisations and non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) with a forum to contribute to the implementation of a
national youth policy and to monitor its implementation.
- To uphold democratic values as enshrined in the Constitution
and the Bill of Rights.
Says Nedlac executive director Jayendra Naidoo: "The formation
of the SAYC signalsan important coming together of youth
organisations in order to allow them to play a moreactive role in
broader civil society. It will ensure that youth issues are catered
for inforums such as Nedlac and the NGO Coalition, and it will
assist in the integration ofyouth in all government programmes and
policies through organs such as the National Youth Commission."
The SAYC will be launched from 10h00 onwards on Saturday, 2
August 1997 at the Braamfontein Recreation Centre (corner of Jut
and Harrison Streets; the entrance to theParked is in Jut Street).
The key note address will be delivered by Minister of Labour Tito
Mboweni.