The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has recently issued a statement in response to the cabinet changes made by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
SASCO's Media and Communication Liason, Luvuyo Barnes, told Careers Portal that as the alliance of the ANC, they were shocked by Ramaphosa's seeming disregard of youth in his appointees.
As recently as the 1st of June 2021, we have given the memorandum to the president of the republic and to national Treasurer. In part of what has been raised, is the marginalisation of young people in government - Its a lack of youth representation in the executive.
Barnes also said the ANC has a pull of young people in its ranks that are qualified to be appointed to the Executive cabinet.
He added that experience is not a problem, citing that the majority of the ministers entered government from exile without any ministerial experience.
"The ANC is unwilling to act on the youth unemployment crisis," said Barnes.
When asked by Careers Portal about their lack of participation in the elections, Barnes responded that young people can't only be expected to participate in elections when they are marginalised in other developmental programmes by government.
SASCO has also given a 30 days ultimatum to cabinet ministers to fill the vacant positions in government. Should this demand not be met, it could lead to protest action.
In their recent media statement, the students movement noted the preference of pensioners by ANC in the appointment of Enoch Godongwana, who is 64, as the new finance minister.
SASCO is now calling upon mass democratic movement to unite and enforce inclusion of youth by government in all areas of society.
The Congress added that even their calls to society based organisations has fallen on deaf ears.
Barnes continued to say that the government can’t make youth based decisions without the participation of youth in those decisons.
SASCO hopes to receive a speedy response to their needs as the countdown to their 30 days ultimatum has already begun.
