In his official new year’s message on 01 January 2019, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, said that all must raise their hands and participate actively in the country’s transformation.
With just a few months to go before the country heads to the polls, President Ramaphosa said that each South African has the ability to make a meaningful difference. He especially called on the youth to register to vote.
“We urge all our people, particularly the youth, to register to vote and to exercise their responsibility as patriotic citizens of our great nation. In 2019, we must raise our hands, each one of us, in the spirit of Thuma Mina.”
Mr Ramaphosa said that a national effort will be needed in building on the progress made last year. “We’ll need a huge national effort to build on the progress made in 2018 in restoring our country to a path of growth and progress. “We’ll need to take extraordinary measures and work together to take some difficult decisions given the challenges that lie ahead.”
Meanwhile, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), in partnership with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), on Monday 21 January 2019 launched the voter registration and education campaign (VREC).
The campaign is aimed at encouraging eligible young people between the ages of 18 to 35 to register to vote in the upcoming general elections. The weekend of 26 and 27 January 2019 is the final voter registration weekend.
Speaking at the launch NYDA chairperson Sfiso Mtsweni said that this year, the agency is committed to fighting youth unemployment.
“We are glad to report that we have successfully lobbied government to scrap experience as a requirement for all entry level vacancies, a demand justified by the high unemployment rate amongst graduates.”
Mr Mtsweni said they have declared 2019 the year of youth and great determination towards ensuring that the agenda of youth is realised.
“We are at the centre of ensuring that as many young people make it to the legislatures in the country. We need radical and militant young people to fill up the benches of Parliament.”
He said the NYDA is going to roll-out the National Youth Service (NYS) programme to reach one million young people.
“It is our belief that a clear partnership between our schools and the Department of Home Affairs will go a long way in ensuring that our learners get their smart card IDs timeously to register this weekend,” Mr Mtsweni said.
“As we head to the polls as young people, we are celebrating the right to vote as a significant tool to restore the values of a non-racial society,” Mr Mtsweni said.
A family representative of Solomon Mahlangu, Gideon Mahlangu, who said he was happy to see young people determined to protect the country’s democracy.
“We urge all young people to register to vote. By not voting, you will be betraying our democracy. Freedom and democracy did not come cheap,” he said.
IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini urged youth to realise the power they hold as a collective.
“Young people of South Africa are an increasingly powerful and crucial segment of our economy, culture, democracy and country. Until they register and vote, they are unable to exercise their right to participate in choosing the future of our country,” said Mr Mashinini.
The voter registration campaign will be rolled out across the nine provinces, gathering the highest number of volunteers to assist.
Sibonelelo Msiza (18), who had applied for an ID, was one of the young people who came to register to vote. She said that she is looking forward to casting her vote.
“It will be my first time voting,” she said with excitement.
David Sikhakhane (18), said that he could not wait to cast his vote. “I want to be part of the young people who are building the future of this country. Our government needs young people to take over.” Eyewitness News · SAnews.gov.za
