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Yesterday morning I looked out of my office window, and was struck by the many national flags I saw fluttering in the wind. Corporate South Africa was sending a message to the world and I felt so proud to be South African, and part of this. We are being united by this wonderful symbol which embodies the aspirations of our nation.

This surely is the creed that we in the Gauteng government are pursuing with zeal. Our duty is to ensure that you grow in a safe and free environment. Our belief is that it is not enough to philosophise about the virtues of youth, but to create circumstances that make it possible for young people to value their worth in society.

We all come from a traumatised society, the scars of our past are with us still. Yet we simply cannot afford to spend the day harping about these wounds. Our vision is a South Africa that treasures its youth and strives to secure its future.

In realising this dream, government cannot be expected to shoulder the burden all by itself. There is one worrying trend in the country today. It is worrying because it costs young people their lives. Drug and alcohol abuse is on the rise. A whole generation will go down the drain until and unless we all stand up against this menace. It has now become fashionable amongst some of our young people to "sniff" or "unkawuza" failing which your peers brand you a "moegoe". Well, if you have to steal or mug others to satisfy your craving for drugs then let's all be "moegoes". You will not be alone, yours sincerely is one too as are all decent South Africans who are addicted to life itself.

During my recent visit to Asia one thing that struck me is the high level of literacy displayed by these countries. In Singapore alone, out of every eight families two are on-line: linked by a computer network. Here are societies that have harnessed the power of technology for the development of the people.

Our country has an enviable science research and development capability; cutting edge technology and one of the best financial services infrastructure in the world, yet over 60% of our people are if literate. I came back from Asia determined that this state of affairs cannot go on any longer. Yet, I was conscious that to thrust us, to fast-track our people into the 21st century it simply will not be enough to teach them numeracy and literacy - we live in the computer age. That is how the concept of computeracy was born.

You will not find this concept in the Oxford dictionary. However, it embraces our concerted endeavours to bring technology to the people. Business people have been approached to realise this strategy. Very soon our landscape will be dotted with steel containers which will serve as computer training centres. These are centres with a difference; not only will our young people be taught computer programming, but assembling and disassembling etc. This is but a humble beginning.

Flying high in the sky is the apt metaphor for excellence. You break free of the clutches of gravitation and soar high like a bird: the sky is the limit. We will, in the course of the coming school holidays, be selecting a group of people drawn from across the racial spread to undertake flying lessons. Why are we doing this? To demonstrate to you that there is nothing impossible; that our democracy has opened new and exciting opportunities for you. Again, we have approached key business people to adopt a flying cadet and bear all the instruction costs. The response from our business sector has been generous and magnanimous. TV1 will be publicising this exciting initiative in the coming months. I trust that some of you here will be selected.

We have all seen the excitement that can be generated by a good sporting match: the spectators shout and scream, and become totally involved in the match. The teamwork that is essential for success in any sports endeavour, holds the key to success. If we apply the same discipline and enthusiasm to nation building, it will not be long before we rank among the worlds' best. The many bridges that can be built will assist our country to be really great. I urge you to use the opportunities that are presented by so many sports bodies.

We can achieve so much by grasping the opportunities in life, but as with all things, a measure of caution is not out of place. Freedom means responsibility: Aids destroy lives. Grasp the moment, and let us all work hard towards building a country where people will prosper and be healthy. If you are responsible in dealing with life, life will treat you well.

As you may know, next year we are officially opening a Youth College to teach our young people technical skills and afford advancement opportunities for those of you who missed, for one or other reason, formal schooling. From the SDU/SPU's, the unemployed and marginalised youth, here is a golden opportunity for them to be part of a changing South Africa. Applications for admission are already out in the papers or pick one up at our ministry of education.

For us the best investment our government can undertake is to enable you to be part of the changes that are unfolding in South Africa. While you strive for learning, friendship and good community relations, this government strives for excellence. You are our conscience, and we dare you not to fail us.

I thank you.

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