Youth Development, Employment and Citizenship: briefing
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
13 June 2006
Meeting Summary
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Meeting report
PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
13 June 2006
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND CITIZENSHIP: BRIEFING
Chairperson: Mr S Tsenoli (ANC)
Documents handed out:
DPLG presentation
Independent Electoral
Commission presentation
SUMMARY
The Department of Provincial and Local Government, the Independent Electoral
Commission and the National Youth Commission met with the Committee to discuss
youth development, employment and citizenship issues. The policy framework for
youth development was discussed and various challenges were outlined. Various
key programmes were explained. Information on current voting patterns and
election statistics were presented. An integrated approach was needed for youth
development. Free basic education should be provided at all levels.
Members asked certain questions including the number of youth organisations,
the need for integration of the sector, the inclusion of youth structures
within local government, the role of the Department in monitoring youth
benefits at the local level, the update of the Voters’ Roll, the presence of
the Youth Commission in rural areas, reasons for decline in voter turnout and
the improvement of communication of success stories.
MINUTES
Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) presentation
Ms S Makotoko (Deputy Director-General: Systems and Capacity-Building) provided
detail on the status of the youth within South Africa and the policy framework
for youth development. Various challenges were outlined and opportunities
explained for mainstreaming youth development. The Local Economic Development
(LED) and Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) processes were discussed. The
Department’s Internship Programme and Plan of Action was recounted.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) presentation
Adv P Tlakula (Chief Electoral Officer) referred to the Constitutional mandate
and the legislative framework. Information was provided on the Voter’s Roll and
other registration details. Voter turnout percentages were provided. Voter
education programmes were conducted to increase awareness on election-related
matters.
National Youth Commission (NYC) presentation
Mr L Mboyi (Chief Executive Officer) declared that an integrated approach was
required to achieve youth development objectives. The Youth Commission should
be included in the list of Chapter 9 institutions. The Commission enjoyed
variable success in different provinces. A Youth Ministry was needed to guide
development. The Commission advocated the provision of free basic education at
all levels of the sector. The location of local youth units had to be carefully
planned.
Discussion
Mr S Mashudulu (ANC) noted that many youth organisations currently
existed resulting in confusion. The Committee should support the integration of
the sector and engage with all stakeholders. Provincial structures had to be
active at the local level.
Mr M Lekgoro (ANC) stated that youth organisations had to be involved in
development initiatives at the local level. Youth groups had to arrange events
and be more proactive in driving development. The youth had to be included in
Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
Mr W Dorman (DA) stated that the Chairperson of the Youth Commission should
have been present at the meeting. The youth should be involved in the MIG and
LED programmes. He asked whether the Department was setting targets for the
achievement of youth benefits in the various programmes. Voting patterns were
important sources of information and he asked how reliable the current figures
were. The Voters’ Roll had to be updated.
Mr M Swathe (DA) asked whether the Youth Commission operated in rural areas and
whether the youth was included in MIG-related projects. Long-serving presiding
officers in the IEC had to be changed to create opportunities for other
candidates.
The Chairperson concurred that the absence of the Youth Commission Chairperson
was a disappointment. He suggested that all government departments should
promote co-operatives and he asked what plans were in place to facilitate this.
The promotion of entrepreneurial skills was a key component of long-term
economic development. Clarity was sought on the term “closed” with regard to
the IEC. Reasons for the decline in voter turnout were requested.
Mr Mboyi apologised for the failure of the Chairperson to attend the meeting.
The Commission placed a strong emphasis on rural youth. Various initiatives
were in place such as the purchase of farms to train the youth on farm
management and related activities. The Commission did not have the capacity to
facilitate youth development on its own but depended on a team approach to
achieve objectives. The acquisition of land was an important component of youth
development and the improvement of living standards. Parliament should promote
the advent of free education in South Africa.
Adv Tlakula replied that the Voters’ Roll was linked to the Home Affairs
Population Register system. The hand held scanners were aging but remained
accurate with a 2% margin for error. The retention of presiding officers was in
order to retain skills and knowledge of complex legal issues. The closed list
referred to the proportional representation political party system. The voter
turnout in South Africa was not a concern as some mature democracies had a
lower turnout figure.
Mr T Tselane (Commissioner-IEC) added that the handheld scanners were useful on
the day of elections to speed up the process. Presiding officers such as school
principals were useful as they could manage the process. The media and
political parties should assist in regenerating interest in the political
process and elections. Anomalies on the Voters’ Roll would have to be
corrected.
The Chairperson noted the value that volunteers can bring to the election
process and asked how volunteers were managed and selected.
Adv Tlakula stated that volunteers received no payment other than support for
subsistence and travel. Guidelines were in place to oversee the appointment of
volunteers. Volunteers could not hold office in a party and had to be
registered voters. Individuals were cross-checked with candidate lists.
Ms Makotoko declared that other youth-orientated projects existed that had not
been mentioned in the meeting. Financial internship programmes were in place.
Interns had been placed at municipalities in terms of Project Consolidate. The
youth should be involved in infrastructure plans at the local level.
Co-operatives would remain a key focus of the IDPs for the next five years. The
Department supported the notion that the youth ought to influence policy
development at the local government level.
Mr P Pillay (DPLG-MIG) stated that the Department intended to unbundle more
projects below R5 million to create job opportunities for the youth and the
unemployed. Local labour content would be used in infrastructure projects and
permanent opportunities would be generated. The construction industry
development board would assist in the MIG process to enable contractors to
develop sound track records. A target for youth employment in the MIG process
would be established.
Mr Mashudulu stated that the Committee needed to establish how many youth and
disabled persons were registered with the social welfare system. Parliamentary
Constituency offices could assist with information provision to municipalities.
The Chairperson asserted that communication had to be improved to all
stakeholders on the strategy and progress achieved. A youth strategy at the
local government level had to be devised.
Ms Makhi (National Youth Commission) stated that provincial workshops had been
held to guide the establishment of youth units at the local government level.
Many Councils displayed a lack of buy-in to the notion of youth development.
The Department should intervene to ensure that youth development was included
in IDPs.
The Chairperson added that the youth had to actively engage with local
government structures to promote youth development. The Youth Commission should
provide a profile of youth within Metros and large municipalities to assist the
planning process.
The meeting was adjourned.
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