South African Youth Council
born
Monday, 4 August 30, 1997
The greatest challenge facing South African youth is for them to
embrace and understand the technological revolution asthey head
towards leadership roles in the twenty-first century. This is
becoming more relevant as South Africa becomes increasingly part of
a global society.
This was the challenge issued by Minister of Labour Tito Mboweni
at the launch of the South African Youth Council (SAYC) in
Braamfontein on Saturday.
The SAYC will form part of Nedlac's Development Chamber. As the
minister responsible for Nedlac, Mboweni welcomed theSAYC to the
chamber in the spirit of what Nedlac represents social
partnership,cooperation and negotiation to reach consensus on
important labour, economic and socialpolicy issues.
Forty-four representativenational youth bodies embraced the
spirit of the SAYC as a body representing all SouthAfrican youth by
committing themselves to the charter, mission, objectives and
strategiesof the national body.
The launch comprised four commissions out of which the
structures and functions of the SAYC were born. These commissions
considered coordination and networking, youth programmes, the
SAYC'sconstitution-making process and policy and advocacy.
Says Aubrey Lekwane, coordinator of Nedlac's Development
Chamber: "Thirty youth organisations represented at the launch
showed their commitment to participating in the structures of the
SAYC by immediately paying their annual membership fee. This has
given the body a basis from which to establish the relevant
structures."
Commenting on the constitution of the organisation, he said that
existing provincial structures had been taken into account,and
represented the beginnings of the national infrastructure of the
newly formed council.
The aim of the SAYC is to contribute to government policy and
legislation, to investigate and monitor private and public funding
available for youth development, to set targets for each sector of
society with regards to areas of relevance to youth, and to lobby
for the establishment of a youth policy, research and a
capacity-building centre.
Members of the executive of theSAYC as voted for at the event
are as follows:
President:
Mr Pilusa Chabo (SA Council of Churches)
Vice-president:
Mr Chemist Khumalo (Student Union for Christian Action)
General secretary:
Mr Naledzani Mashapha (SA Students' Congress)
Treasurer:
Mr Joao Azevedo (Democratic Party Youth)
Additional members:
Ms Tanya Mungulwa (SA Youth Chamber of Commerce)
Mr Christoffel Uys (Junior Rapportryersbeweging)
Ms Nomfanelo Kota (ANC Youth League)
Mr Aggripa Masuku (Congress of SA Students)
Mr Salman Letlatsa (Muslim Youth Movement)
Mr Lebogang Leokana (Nafcoc Youth Chamber)