Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma told the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on Tuesday to prioritise poverty alleviation, rural development and crime fighting programmes.Zuma was addressing young people at the Huntersfield stadium in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, during June 16 Youth Day celebrations.
He was also launching the NYDA, the result of a merger of the National Youth Commission and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, which was established to promote youth development issues.
"We have prioritised education over the next five years, therefore the creation of an environment which promotes skills development, and economic participation of youth will be one of the primary tasks of the ANC.
"We all expect the agency to assist in promoting youth participation in democratic processes, community and civic decision-making and development at all levels," he said. He said the government had the responsibility "to create an environment where our young people can extricate themselves from poverty and build successful lives".
"On this day we reaffirm that we have heard the voices of youth in distress. We are aware of unemployed youths, those in conflict with the law, those in abject poverty and those who seek assistance in our townships and rural villages.
"Youth development is therefore a critical focus area for our government," Zuma said.
'He's making us sleepy'
He had earlier sent the crowd into a frenzy when he ascended the podium and chanted his infamous umshini wam song.
As he danced, masses of youth at the stadium danced along with him.
Some school children appeared bored when he stopped dancing and addressed them.
"U Zuma uyabora... Uyalalisa (he's boring and making us sleepy)," said a young man.
However, other young people listened attentively to Zuma's speech, saying they hoped to be among those who would get the jobs that Zuma promised to deliver by the end of December 2009.
* News 24
