Leaders from across South Africa’s civil society, political and private sectors gathered at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town on Wednesday to discuss the ‘real state of the nation’ ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.
Supporting new politics in different forms is a mission we can all be part of, enabling different people to take on different roles in building a better democracy and society for all.
The soul of our nation is under threat and anyone who cares about creating a safe, just, free and more equal country must be willing to engage in a new war: a battle for the soul of SA.
We – the youth – have addressed this memorandum to you and to every public servant and official who administers the functions of our state and its institutions. We hope that you will receive this document in good faith and expect that our concerns will be addressed and acted upon timeously and with the vigour and impetus needed to truly transform our society into one which serves all who live in it.
The shoulders of young people are forced to carry the burden of ensuring our country does not collapse nor fall into flames. This was the sentiment put forward by Mandla Nkomfe, the Deputy Chairperson of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. Nkomfe was speaking at an event at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum to inform the press and public about the Youth Day Parade for Justice and Change. The Youth Day Parade, set to take place on June 16, will provide a platform for young people to express their aspirations for a truly equal, just, non-sexist, and non-racial society in which all persons have access to higher forms of freedom.