Address by Mrs Patricia Lebenya-Ntanzi

Durban, 1 June 2007 

I would like to warmly welcome you this morning to our press conference at which we will outline the IFP Youth Brigade's programme for this month. On June 16th, we, of course, will be commemorating Youth Day. The challenges of the youth today are, I contend, as great as they were at Soweto, albeit different challenges. South Africa is a young country in both senses: we are a young democracy and the majority of our people are defined as youth.

These include beating child poverty and physical abuse, access to decent education, skills training, employment and education awareness about HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases.

For the purpose of any association, such as the IFPYB, is for the purpose of action. I would like to draw your attention to a number of events that we are holding through the month of June. I do hope that some of them will be fun because as young people we subscribe to the dictum that work can be more fun than fun.

The most important action we are undertaking is marching against unemployment in Johannesburg on June 16th where we will present a petition for which we hoping to gather one million signatures calling for the creation of a dedicated youth ministry. This has long been an IFPYB proposal because we have always recognised that the challenges of the youth requires the drive, coordination and resources of a single government department.

Youth matters should not be merely approached as an extra-departmental activity.

Youth matters require the energy, verve and determination of a minister who is passionate about our nation's youth fulfilling their God-given potential.

The present interdepartmental approach is simply not enough. Moreover the Youth Commission based in the Office of the President, by there own admission, has been a lamentable failure. I believe it should be scrapped forthwith.

As a young member of parliament, I sense that the revolutionary spirit that burned brightly in the hearts of the class of '76 is alive today as it was then. I urge the media to cover these events so that the priorities of the youth are placed firmly on the nation's agenda.

On June 14th, I will be making my maiden speech in parliament. I pledge now that in all that I do that I will always advance the interests of young people.

I thank you.

For further information contact:
Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi 078 186 3619