PREMIER LESUFI INSPIRES FUTURE LEADERS AT NOORDGESIG PRIMARY

By Lawrence Mashabela.

• Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasised the power of education, stating: “If we cannot get our education system right, we will definitely not move the country forward.”
• Learners raised critical issues such as teenage pregnancy, bullying, and gangsterism, calling for stronger protection and empowerment interventions in schools.
• The “Empower the Girl Child to Lead” campaign continues to unite government, civil society, and the private sector in driving equality, innovation, and youth leadership across Gauteng.

In a bid to continuously empower the girl child and inspire young leaders, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, together with MEC for Social Development Faith Mazibuko and MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, led an interactive engagement with learners at Noordgesig Primary School in Johannesburg.

The gathering brought together over 500 pupils, both girls and boys (predominantly girls) from various schools across the Johannesburg Region to openly discuss the challenges they face and share ideas on how to shape a better future.

This dialogue session forms part of the “Empower the Girl Child to Lead” campaign, a provincial initiative aimed at addressing the plight of young girls and promoting gender equality. The campaign unites government, civil society, Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), and the private sector to confront pressing social issues such as teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, substance abuse, inequality, and the rise of HIV infections among young people.

During the engagement, learners voiced concerns about gangsterism, cyberbullying, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy, urging the government to strengthen interventions that protect and empower young people in schools.

Sixteen-year-old Mpho Molefe highlighted the ongoing challenge of teenage pregnancy, calling for measures to safeguard girls from becoming young mothers. Fellow learner Nyiko Hlongwane added that bullying and gangsterism continue to threaten the safety and well-being of learners.

In his address, Premier Lesufi encouraged the youth to see themselves as future innovators and problem-solvers.
“If we cannot get our education system right, we will definitely not move the country forward,” he said. “Empowering girls and young women is key to building a stronger, more equal society.”

Premier Lesufi further highlighted the necessity for education to be both engaging and aligned with contemporary demands, encouraging students to adopt technological proficiency and practical skills from an early age. He stated, “My vision for education is that by the time students complete Grade 8 or Grade 11, they possess skills such as drone operation, elevator maintenance, or swimming.”
Through such initiatives, the Gauteng Provincial Government continues to champion youth empowerment, nurturing a generation ready to lead with confidence, innovation, and purpose.