On the 16th of June 2025, Councillor Clifford Mohau, the DA PR Councillor for Ward 61, along with Member of Parliament Stephen Moore, addressed the challenges faced by the youth in Zonkizizwe.
As part of the initiative, young people in Zonkizizwe were provided with farming tools to help them engage in productive work and earn a livelihood.
“Community farming is the way to go,” said Stephen Moore, a DA Member of Parliament and political head for the area. He remarked that June 16 is one of South Africa’s most important holidays, remembering the brave youth of 1976 who stood up to make a difference during difficult times. Steve continued, saying that today’s hardships should remind us not to merely give young people a fish, but rather to teach them how to fish.
As a Councillor and Member of Parliament, Mohau and Moore came together and developed the idea of starting a community garden, which will grow cabbage, onions, spinach, and beetroot. The garden will serve the community by giving residents a purpose, particularly those who are unemployed, and by providing food to support their families.
Councillor Mohau noted that this initiative is not limited to Zonkizizwe, and that similar projects will be rolled out in other wards across the Ekurhuleni region. He also encouraged local businesses to support the project in any way they can, no matter how small, as every contribution will help uplift individuals in the community.
The garden will be managed by Thabo, a farming expert who offered his land for the project. He has many years of experience and has committed to sharing his skills with his community.
Ayanda Mcibo, one of the unemployed youth in Ward 1, expressed her views: “The youth of 1976 fought so hard so that today’s youth could be included in South Africa’s system. But despite that, we are still not cared for enough. The struggles we face today continue to hold us back.”
