The start of the New Year, many matriculants will be hunting for spaces at various tertiary institutions across the country. At the same time, a significant number of graduates will be leaving institutions of higher learning in search of employment after having attained their qualifications.

Government understands the immense frustration caused by load shedding and we know the strain it puts on households, business and society. Although we have made steady progress in dealing with load shedding our energy grid remains under pressure and every megawatt saved is precious.

Living in modern day, democratic South Africa it is often easy to forget about our fractured past and the real impact it still has on lives today.  Although we have come a very long way in a reasonably short space of time, we were never going to erase hundreds of years of oppression overnight.

It is often said that water is life, and this is indeed the case as no life can be sustained without water.  However, very few people give a second thought about the infrastructure required to ensure clean, drinkable water.

Media diversity in any country is regarded as a measure of the depth of its democracy. It is therefore important that every citizen should have access to a range of media. A pluralistic and free media sector has always been needed to ensure that all voices in society are heard. The strengthening of the media sector arguably has a twin function-with media serving society as an agent of development and acting as an agent for economic growth by stimulating the growth of consumer markets.

South Africa has made significant strides since achieving freedom 30 years ago, thanks to its human rights-driven constitutional dispensation. This has translated into sound governance and impactful programmes that improve citizens' lives.

To those born after 1994 the impact and meaning of our democracy is very different to those who lived during apartheid and through the democratic change. Life as we now know it was very different prior to 1994, and things we now take for granted were only provided to a select few.

The spate of abuse and killings of children such as the brutal murder and mutilation last year of six-year-old Tshiamo Rabanye and his five-year-old friend Mduduzi Zulu in Johannesburg brings into sharp focus the level of violence that threatens our children.

There are many young people in our country who are ready to enter the working world but find themselves in a Catch-22 situation. They are unable to get a job because they do not have experience and are unable to get the needed experience because they cannot get hired.

The role of social media in shaping public opinion and influencing political outcomes has become undeniable. As South Africa gears up for its upcoming elections, the spectre of disinformation looms large, threatening to undermine the democratic process and distort electoral outcomes.

This year, South Africa will mark 30 years since the inauguration of the first democratically elected President, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.