The Youth Brigade of the Inkatha Freedom Party will be holding a nationwide march with the youth of South Africa in Durban and Johannesburg on Saturday, 13 November, 2004 to call upon President Thabo Mbeki to create a Ministry of Youth. A Memorandum will be delivered to the Minister of Labour and the Minister in the Presidency in Johannesburg and the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban.

It is clear that the needs of South Africa's youth are not being prioritised in a country in which over half of the population are under eighteen. In KwaZulu-Natal, the nation's most populous province, where this ratio is even higher than the national average, youth development is not being given the priority it deserves.

The challenges facing the youth of South Africa, including youth unemployment, poverty, HIV/Aids, are of such a magnitude, that a Ministry of Youth is required to prioritise the needs of the youth and co-ordinate youth delivery programmes across government. Unemployment is alarmingly high at 40 percent, and rising. Young people who make up the most numerous and active section of our population are being hit the hardest.

Currently, the job market is unable to absorb the unemployed millions of old, let alone accommodate the new entrants. The Umsobomvu Youth Fund is only working for the priviledged ANC connected elite and is completely excluding the poor youth of this country.

The IFP says, 'enough is enough'.

The IFP stands for equality of access to opportunity for all the youth of this country. We believe the youth of South Africa are tired of the ANC's stale promises and half-hearted youth policies. The ANC government has failed the youth time and time again.

The IFPYB invites the youth of South Africa to come and march with us on Saturday to demand that the government gives the youth the attention and priority they deserve.

Marches will be held simultaneously in Johannesburg and Durban starting at 10h00 on Saturday. The Johannesburg march will start at Joubert Park down Wolmarans and Harris Streets and proceed to the Gauteng Legislature where the memorandum will be handed over to Minister Mdladlana and Minister Pahad. The Durban march will start at Currie's Fountain and proceed down West Street to the City Hall where the memorandum will be handed over to Premier Ndebele.