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ASSALAAMU ALAIKUM WARAHMAHTULLAHI WABARAKAATU – MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF GOD BE UPON YOU
It is the Martinican revolutionary philosopher, Frantz Fanon, who said:
“Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it”
African youth formations must take note that the founding fathers of African unity declared that only when youth mobilize as an African continent and not for their own country will African youth have real power. AL JAMA-AH has that vision and is an ideal political platform for young people from South Africa and the all-over African continent.
History tells us that the most revolutionary changes have been pushed by young people. In South Africa we saw this in 1976 and the ’80s. We saw it with the student protests of the years 2015 to 2016, which forced the government to implement free education.
It is clear for all to see that the 1994 project has failed and young people in this country must think anew. We know that this country remains a colonial country, despite the constitution wanting to convince us otherwise. It is people on the Cape Flats and in the Townships of this country who remain in the squalors and trapped in a nest of gangsterism, drugs, crime, and degenerated socio-economic conditions. It is here that our mothers, sisters, and young children are being killed on a daily basis and at alarming rates.
Young people must continue to insist that there is no freedom without economic freedom. One of the biggest problems facing us as a country, and indeed the continent is the huge youth unemployment rate. This makes our youth vulnerable prey to criminal elements. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted not only our health and well-being but on our day-to-day life. Youth are also negatively affected by the Covid-19 lockdown, left without an income and loss of jobs.
The Youth is ready with our creativity and innovation and urges the government to accelerate the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). We are ready to grab opportunities the government is availing to us. The classroom struggles have shown that youth can shape their future and the future is the next generation of jobs and new revenue streams. The business opportunities must now be released to youth to build the future in a post-COVID-19.
So what should be the mission of this generation? The demand for the return of the land. The transformation of the economy to be in the hands of the people. Young people must join hands with the unemployed people’s movement to call for a Basic Universal grant for all unemployed people. This is not a call for people to be lazy. But a humane recognition that no one deserves to go to bed with no food. A universal basic grant also helps in growing the economy as more and more people will be capable of contributing to the economy through purchases in the economy, and thereby growing it.
Without the young people focusing on these issues, there shall be no new future trajectory. But a continuation of the status quo.
THANK YOU!
Presentation by AL JAMA-AH YOUTH – STRAND
Maulana Tawfeeq Ely
Date: Friday 26 June 2020
For further comment contact:
Maulnana Tawfeeq Ely
Cell: 060 8022 268