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Deputy President Shiphokosa Paulus Mashatile will, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Youth Day commemoration and career exhibition event scheduled to take place on Monday, 16 June 2025, at the NWU Rag Farm Stadium, Potchefstroom in the JB Marks Local Municipality, North West Province.
National Youth Day Commemorative events this year are held under the theme, “Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation”, a call to all government entities and its strategic partners to accelerate and enhance meaningful interventions in bridging the gap between skills development programmes and services available for access by youth to realise economic gain.
In South Africa, June 16 has been declared a National Youth Day due to the active role and participation of young people in the liberation struggle, noting specifically the student uprising of June 16, 1976.
The 1976 uprising raised the political awareness and introduced a renewed sense to protest against the oppressive apartheid regime. The peaceful 1976 youth demonstrations were met with brutal force from the apartheid regime, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives, including that of Hector Pieterson, who became the face of the brutality worldwide.
To date, not only does South Africa continue to pay homage to the youth of 1976, but the country also recognises and applauds the greatness of today’s youth as they make up 34% of South Africa’s total population.
“As we commemorate this year’s Youth Day, we do so fully aware of the challenges which continue to confront today’s youth, one of them being youth unemployment. Hence this youth month, Government is putting a strong emphasis on the importance of strong collaboration by all implementing partners on education, skills and economic development in order to link youth with education and economic opportunities to address youth unemployment in our country,” said the Deputy President.
During the Youth Day Commemorative event, Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, Premier of the North West Province, Mr Lazarus Mokgosi, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Development Agency, Ms Mafiki Duma, Mayors, senior government officials and Young Trailblazers.
