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One of the young residents from Vhembe and an intern at the Vhembe District Municipality, Mulelelwa Dzhombere. Photo: Silas Nduvheni.
News - Date: 20 June 2024
Youth Day was celebrated on Sunday, but the whole month is dedicated to youth-awareness programmes. The executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), Freda Nkondo, emphasised that “youth month serves as a reminder of South Africa’s brutal past and also as a beacon of hope for the current youth in Vhembe District and South Africa at large.”
She said that youth month should serve as a reminder of the significant strides that the country had taken to create an environment that promoted youth empowerment. She added that VDM had several incentives in place to support youths involved in businesses in the agriculture, tourism, and enterprise development sectors.
Nyiko Nkuna, secretary of the Vhembe District Youth Council, said that youth month was celebrated in the country not only to commemorate the historic events of 1976 but also to acknowledge and appreciate the role played by young people in nation-building. “South Africa, being the youngest democratic state in Africa, has successfully transformed into one of the best nations where young people and women enjoy equal rights regardless of their race,” he said. He called on both the government and the private sector to assist in combating unemployment.
Muelelwa Dzhombere, a youth and an intern at the VDM, encouraged young people to seize the opportunities afforded to them. She said education was the key to unlocking these opportunities. “I urge the youth to consider entrepreneurship as a pathway to success. Starting your own business not only allows you to pursue your passion and interests but also contributes to economic development and job creation in our communities,” said Dzhombere.
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