YOUTH URGED TO BE CHANGE AGENTS AT WELKOM YOUTH DAY COMMEMORATION

By Thembile Nqabeni.

• ⁠Empowerment Through Opportunity: Youth accessed job information, career services, and social support directly from government representatives.
• MEC for Social Development; Honourable Mathabo Leeto encouraged graduates to harness available government initiatives and create their own economic opportunities.
• ⁠The youth were reminded of the sacrifices of 1976 and inspired to uphold that legacy by addressing modern challenges and building their communities.

On 16 June 2025, the Thabong Community Centre in Welkom came alive as the Matjhabeng Local Municipality hosted a vibrant Youth Day commemoration. The gathering drew local youth, community stakeholders, and dignitaries, including Honourable Mathabo Leeto, MEC for Social Development, and Executive Mayor Cllr. Thanduxolo Khalipa; and Member of Parliament Hon. Olga Seate.
The occasion provided young people with access to career guidance, employment opportunities, and critical health and social services. It served as a meaningful platform to reflect on the legacy of the 1976 Soweto Uprising while addressing present-day challenges and prospects.
In her keynote address, MEC Leeto paid tribute to the courage of the youth of 1976, emphasizing how their sacrifices laid the foundation for the freedoms enjoyed today. She noted the post-1994 progress in education and cultural development, asserting that the government has opened “the doors of learning and culture” for all South Africans.
Calling on today’s youth to embody the same spirit of activism and resilience, MEC Leeto encouraged unemployed graduates to seize government programmes that support entrepreneurship and job creation. She urged them to be innovative, resourceful, and solutions-driven rather than waiting for formal employment.
Addressing pressing social issues, the MEC highlighted the dangers of substance abuse, malnutrition, gender-based violence, and particularly teenage pregnancy, which she warned could derail young people’s aspirations. She challenged the youth to take ownership of their futures by learning from the past and actively contributing to building a better South Africa.
The commemoration fostered meaningful engagement between government leaders and the youth, reinforcing a message of empowerment, accountability, and action.