The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, urged young people to know that even though they speak many languages, and come from different places, they are all the children of one mother, Mother Africa.
Ramaphosa said this while addressing about 20 young African leaders at the inaugural International Nelson Mandela Youth Dialogue held at Walter Sisulu University Zamukulungisa Campus in Mthatha, last week.
This dialogue took four days. It started on March 10 and was hosted by the National Youth Agency (NYDA) in partnership with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Higher Education and Training and International Relations and Co-operation.
It brought together young people from about 20 countries including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and more. Ramaphosa said as Africans, they are united in their diversity and their unity is their greatest strength.
“We are gathered under one roof as one family in honour and memory of one of the foremost fathers of our continent, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
“The conceptualisation of this dialogue was inspired by Nelson Mandela’s cherished dream to see the young people of Africa come together, to unite, and to collaborate to solve our many challenges,” said Ramaphosa.
He added that the idea of bringing the youth on the continent together to start important conversations about leadership, development and political change first came to him during a visit to the Republic of Senegal in December 2021.
According to him, after delivering a lecture at the Cheikh Anta Diop University, the students and he had a discussion on a variety of topics.
“These included the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of African Universities in knowledge production, economic integration, sustainable development, constitutionalism, human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“It struck me, as it always has when I travel in other parts of Africa, just how many opportunities there are for Africa’s youth to collaborate.”
Ramaphosa added that there was so much that young people across the continent could learn from each other’s experiences. He said that they could draw on each other’s strengths and capabilities, and encourage each other as they took up the mantle of leadership.
“You are here because, as young people, you demand to be part of decision-making and shaping a future that is yours. You are the next generation, the innovators, the change-makers and the agents of progress.”
The general secretary for Youth in Business South Africa, Brian Hlongwane, said that they had an engagement with Ramaphosa about matters concerning young people in South Africa and in African Continent.
“I believe NYDA hosted this event to create a platform where young people engage with Ramaphosa in terms of voicing out their views and opinions that can take South Africa and Africa forward. Even though it was no longer a dialogue but a presentation, we are looking forward to seeing action, and rolling out of the fellowship as unpacked by him, and ensuring that young people get the support they need,” said Hlongwane.
Vice-president of the International Union of Socialist Youth, Khulekani Skhosana, said that they were called by Ramaphosa under the banner of NYDA that as young people who are the leaders in their respective countries, it was important that they gathered.
“We appreciate the initiative which is the brainchild of Ramaphosa who said we should have this Nelson Mandela Youth Dialogue, where we have a conversation on how do we become the solution we seek, as young people of the continent. How can we improve, instead of complaining to the government all the time? So we were there to have that conversation which went very well,” said Skhosana.
He said they spoke about range of topics, which included inter-generational youth, the challenge of unemployment, and more.
