June has been declared as the Youth Month and it is dedicated to the youth of 1976 who stood up against the apartheid government in response to the discriminatory and oppressive education system that it enforced onto them back then.
June 16 is commemorated because it is the day wherein school children who participated in the protest were massacred by the apartheid police force. As we reflect and commemorate on this fateful day it’s also necessary to understand how it changed the socio-political landscape of South Africa, we must also recognise and acknowledge that every regime has its own challenges that are brought to the fore by the youth; the present-day youth is facing the scourge of poverty, unemployment, inaccessible and unaffordable higher education, gender-based violence, substance abuse and lack of economic opportunities amongst others.
The theme for the 2021 Youth Day and Youth Month is centred on trying to implement effective ways to stimulate employment in order to achieve inclusive and transformative society. The theme does speak on one of the challenges currently confronting the youth of this country, however, challenges faced by the youth shouldn’t only be addressed during this month, the government should be prioritising us as the youth- it should extend beyond the month of June.
It is rather ironic that on the very first day of Youth Month we learned of the high unemployment rate at 32.6% for the first quarter of 2021; affecting the youth in majority with a 74.7% rate of unemployment. The expanded definition of unemployment- which includes those discouraged from seeking work- increased to 43.2%. The unemployment rate is an indication of a country’s current status on its utilisation or lack of its labour force.
The unemployment rate is concentrated among the youth; with those between the ages of 15 and 24 with a rate of 63.2%, and those aged between 25 and 34, with a rate of 41.2%. The unemployment rate also happens to be higher among black Africans (36.5%) compared to other population groups; black African women being the most vulnerable with an unemployment rate of 38.5%.
There often is a false argument that the unemployment rate is due to a lack of skills, and that is far from the truth as there are skilled, trained, and educated people languishing in unemployment as there are no employment opportunities. It is time that the youth of this country collectively rise and demand the government and private sector to address this looming implosion. Our Youth Month programmes will begin with a Post-Budget Speech Engagement on the 7th of June 2021 with the MMC responsible for Finance, Economic Development and ICT, Comrade Doctor Xhakaza. We also will lobby comrades in other regions within the province, as well as the NYTT to visit the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and other critical institutions and organisations that will take part in addressing the youth unemployment crisis in our country.
By Vusumuzi Makwakwa
