20 May 2010
Youth Development Month
“Working together for youth development through action”
South Africa commemorates Youth Day on 16 June 2010. This marks the 34th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising in 1976. This commemoration takes place within the context of the first anniversary of the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency. The Youth Month programme will be unveiled on June 01, 2010 to interact and bring government services closer to young people throughout the month and beyond.
Opportunities brought by democracy require all of society to work together in improving the social conditions of young people who still live in poverty and distress.
- While, all citizens of South Africans irrespective of age enjoy human rights, enshrined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights - youth have a responsibility to promote their rights and defend our democracy.
- Society should strengthen relationships within families to create a safe and caring environment where young people are able to have more positive and healthy lifestyles. Social ills and lack of access to basic social services impact negatively on youth development.
- Youth Development in South Africa is everyone’s responsibility including young people themselves. It is upon every young person to become an agent of change.
Government is committed to continuously advance youth development
- The National Youth Development Agency assists government in fulfilling its electoral mandate by, among other things, promoting quality basic education through the Matric Rewrite Programme, the National Youth Service Programme where 50 000 youth have been targeted to establish cooperatives and enrolling of youth in projects aimed at ensuring that youth workers are trained by March 2011.
- Since the launch of the NYDA, 7 593 loans to the value of R23 million were disbursed to microfinance enterprises and vouchers to the value of R33 467 520 were provided to 4 224 business consultancy services.
- There are 121 operational offices, 113 of which are partnerships with municipalities to enable easy access to products and services of the Agency by all youth the across the country. For 2010/11 the Agency plans to establish youth directorates in all municipalities and government departments.
Africa Day
The South African Government will celebrate 2010 Africa Day on Saturday, 29 May 2010, in Pretoria in cooperation with the African Union (AU) under the theme “Building and Maintaining Peace through Sport in Africa”. Africa Day is a celebration of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, predecessor of the AU, on 25 May 1963.
- The AU Commission organises Africa Day as an annual event and the South African Government, host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, has accepted to also host this event in this historic year for Africa.
- Africa Day is also celebrated in member states (in many as a public holiday) as it is an important milestone in the history and development of Africa.
- Africa Day provides an opportunity to promote the culture of peace and security through the participation of African political leaders, sports personalities and the people at various sporting and cultural events in South Africa .
- The celebrations are aimed at demonstrating that without peace and security no development and prosperity can be achieved on the continent and equally that without development and prosperity, no peace and security can be accomplished
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is a major opportunity for South Africa and the rest of the continent to showcase Africa’s progress
- The celebration of Africa Day 2010 will send a clear message that Africa’s time is now and communicate a welcoming message to visitors.
- The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa presents a unique opportunity to harness the power of sport for the promotion of peace and security in diverse communities, in environments where personal security is a challenge and in countries with conflict and post-conflict situations.
- The 2010 World Cup bid was packaged, proclaimed and pronounced as an African World Cup and it is therefore befitting to celebrate the 2010 Africa Day in South Africa just two weeks before the kick-off of the biggest sporting event in the world.
- The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will ensure that Africa takes advantage of the opportunity to encourage a developmental legacy across the continent, speed up economic growth and halve poverty and unemployment by 2014.
“Ke Nako: Celebrating Africa’s Humanity”
2010 FIFA World Cup™ travel advisories
The South African Government has noted media reports on travel advisories issued by various countries ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, and the cautions by governments or media about possible violence against foreign nationals.
Government wishes to reiterate the assurances given in recent years and months that security preparations for the 2010 World Cup are in place to deal with a broad range of possible threats and disruptions.
Government and South Africans at large responded very strongly two years ago to manifestations of violence against foreign nationals in various places around the country.
While we remain vigilant, there is no justification at this point for suggesting that this phenomenon is likely to recur during the tournament period.
We are confident that South Africans are geared to welcome the international community to our country with the sense of hospitality and openness that brings close to 10 million visitors – mostly from our own continent – to our country each year.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is an international celebration of football. It is an opportunity for the world to be exposed to South Africa, and for South Africa to be exposed to the world.
We believe this spirit will prevail throughout the hosting of the first FIFA World Cup on African soil.
Our security forces – and ordinary South Africans – are ready to discourage and deal with any eventuality that may detract from this celebration, captured by the official call to action for the tournament.
“Ke Nako (it is time). Celebrate Africa’s Humanity”
Highlights
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African creativity and beauty on display for World Cup audiences
A new exhibition at the Museum Africa in Newtown, Johannesburg will showcase works from contemporary artists from Africa and the Diaspora during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The exhibit is envisaged to demonstrate South Africa’s commitment to hosting a truly African event, and gives artists from the continent exposure to a global audience.
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Gautrain’s first segment ready for World Cup
The Gautrain developers have confirmed that Africa’s first high-speed rail line will be launched on 8 June, three days before the opening match of the 2010 World Cup.
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South Africa’s economic growth
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), South Africa's economy might grow faster than initial predictions. The IMF predicted growth of around 2,6% for South Africa in its latest regional economic outlook survey. The Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan, also indicated that South Africa's economic growth could be "somewhat higher" than the 2,3% predicted during the national budget vote.
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Green energy sector could create 300 000 jobs
Preliminary results from a recently commissioned study showed that 300 000 jobs could be created in South Africa's renewable energy sector over the next 10 years, of which 20 000 is achievable in the next two years.
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Relocation of black rhinos to Tanzania
About two decades ago, eight black rhinos were imported to South Africa and kept at the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. As part of South Africa’s efforts to revive extinct species in African countries, on 21 May 2010, Sanparks and its partners, led by the Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs, will donate 32 black rhinos to Tanzania. Black rhinos are indigenous to Tanzania but have become extinct. This contributes towards our country-to-country bilateral exchange status.