Programme Director;

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal , Khuzeni;

Speaker of the Legislature, Ms Nontembeko Boyce;

Deputy Chair of the Local; House, 

iNkosi Gumede and All Traditional leaders and izinduna present;

MECs present;

Director General Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize;

Listeners and viewers who are following us in various platforms;

Sanibonani

I have been asked to make few remarks and introduce our Premier.

Programme Director, once again, the people of KwaZulu-Natal have come together, here in Umkhanyakude District Municipality and others in different parts of the country on this historic Youth Day.

We are gathered to hold aloft the banner of freedom that we so fondly cherish because the young people of 1976 fought so hard to achieve it.

They were inspired by the vision of a united, just, democratic, non-sexist, non-racial and prosperous society.

I feel very privileged because I understand the important role that young people play in every society.  Importantly, I fully comprehend the power that young people have and what the minds of young people combined can produce.

Holding this sitting in Umkhanyakude District carries a special significance because this is the home of the late Mama Nellie Nokuhamba Nyawo.

She played an effective role in the underground structures of Umkhonto WeSizwe in the 80s here in Umkhanyakude.

She was in the unit which mainly operated in and around here in Ingwavuma.

This unit was Commanded by young people.

I recall Mfundisi “Mgabe” Dumisa. The commissar of the unit was another young person Cde Sfiso “Gab” Buthelezi.

Other young members of the unit were Mhlawumbe “Gosa” Maphumulo, James “Nkululeko” Maropeng, Tunkie Maphumulo,  Fana Nkosi  who all had been trained outside the country in Angola, the then German Democratic Republic and the then Soviet Union.

Their mission was to recruit, train and wage war inside the country. In early 1984 it established its bases here in this district, staying in the bushes and caves .

Mama Nokuhamba’s brief was to look after the young guerrillas who were going to be based here in Ngwavuma and those who crossed the border to Mozambique. She used her home as a base and other assignment included:

1. Gathering intelligence about the movement of the enemy;  

2.   Ensuring logistical support  to the young guerrillas;

3.   Recruiting young people to serve Umkhonto Wesizwe;

4.   Providing courier services to and from Swaziland

5.  Mama Nyawo ensured the transportation of weapons from Swaziland to Ingwavuma and from Ingwavuma to inland KZN.

She committed her heart and soul to the struggle for the emancipation of the people of South Africa. It was not surprising when she was honoured with the National Order of Luthuli in 2009 by former President Jacob Zuma.

We want to salute her and many more other comrades from this district who sacrificed their lives in order to liberate the people of this country from the jaws of apartheid.

Accordingly, as leaders, we renew, on this historic day, our pledge to build a better life for all, working in partnership with traditional leaders, religious leaders and all sectors of our society.

Millions of our people are conscious of the fact that, as their neighboring villages gets clean water, electricity, clinics and proper roads, as many move from informal to formal houses, their turn will surely come as day follows night.

On this important day we reaffirm the lesson of our centuries of struggle, that there can be no prosperity in our land unless all young people have economic freedom.

We call upon young people of today to defend our political Freedom and also fight for economic freedom.

The issues of young development will be addressed by the Premier today. Having said that, we are positive about the future of this country because we are witnessing the determination of young people to take the country forward.

Tomorrow, we will have youth parliament under the leadership of our Speaker. And issues of youth development will be addressed.

Programme Director, at this stage, let me pause and introduce to you our Premier Sihle Zikalala

This is the leader who needs no introduction.

Our Premier, is a young, dynamic and energetic leader who has served this country with distinction.

Premier Zikalala was born in Ndwedwe;

·He became a political activist at a very young age;

· As a result of his passion for community development, he was identified by the community and eventually deployed as a councillor under Ndwendwe Local Municipality;

· He is the former Secretary General of the ANC Youth League

· He also served as the Deputy Provincial Secretary and Secretary of the Governing Party, the ANC;

· He served as the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. He also served as Leader of Government Business;

·He is currently the Provincial Chair of the ruling party, the African National Congress

Ladies and Gentlemen, may we allow the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Mr. Sihle Zikalala to address us