President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the country’s youth to be agents of change.
Interacting with youth during a virtual panel discussion on Youth Day on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said there has to be life after Covid-19 and challenged the youth to come forward and help bring about change in the economy.
“We are looking forward to innovation, creativity and new ideas from young people and we want young people who are going to speak out and step forward. Covid-19 is pregnant with opportunities,” he says.
“I’m throwing a challenge to young people. Post-Covid-19 is a new platform.
“We need to set up different ways of running our economy, ownership and managing our economy and even the production of our economy.”
He said technology will underpin everything that will be needed to be done and this would usher in a digital society.
“As young people we need to ask ourselves, are we prepared to continue living with the inequality that has persisted forever and a day?
“Are we the young people of June 16, 1976, who said enough is enough, we want to see change?
“I believe 2020 has ushered in that moment as young people. I want young people to contribute their ideas. I am convinced we have to create a new economy.
“We have to have new sectors and sub-sectors in a variety of ways. The creative industries must explode,” Ramaphosa said, adding that the youth just need a lift, in order to fly.
African News Agency