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28 January 2007

"Our main task as the church, the young people, government and communities, is to work together in partnership with each other, to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. We need to spread the message that HIV and AIDS kills and we have to embark on all measures available to us to combat its spread," these is how South Africa's Deputy President opened her address to Catholic Youth gathered in the City of Tshwane on Sunday.

Speaking to over 2 000 Catholic youth from Tshwane and Madibeng Municipality, the Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka gave the youth a challenge and encouragement to "live your life according to the moral principles." The youth had gathered to witness the cross donated to the world's youth by the late Pope John Paul the Second. The crucifix is en route from Cologne, Germany to Sydney Australia where the 2008 World Youth Day celebrations are to be held.

The Deputy President addressed the youth also in her capacity as custodian of youth development in government, a patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) and the chair of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC).

Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka asserted that HIV and AIDS was one of the most important challenges that faced our country. She said many people had died as a result of being infected and many more would die if South Africans did not strengthen efforts of combating the spread of HIV and AIDS.

"We need to continue to put across the message that young people must abstain from engaging in sexual activities until they are old and matured enough to deal with the challenges that are posed by engaging in sex. We must spread the message with much force, determination and vigour, that it is cool for young people to abstain from engaging in sex," she said.

In addition to abstinence as method of prevention, government had adopted a comprehensive strategy of dealing with the HIV and AIDS challenge. Government's message to young people and to all South Africans was that those who were already sexually active ought to be faithful to their partners, because of the effects of promiscuity in spreading HIV. Government also says people must make use of condoms at all times, when engaging in sexual activities.

"We believe that it is of vital importance to spread the totality of our messages without emphasising the importance of one above the other. All of these messages are important if we are to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS."

She said: "Those who have engaged in sex must know their status, by continuously getting tested so that they will adopt healthy living lifestyles. When you know your status you are in a better position to understand how you should live, by ensuring that you do not infect others and re-infect yourself in the process. The fact is that although there is no cure for HIV, it is still a manageable disease."

Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka emphasised that the absence of morals in South African society, and the fact that they continued to be eroded manifested itself in a number of ways: through the spiralling of crime, violence against women and children, corruption and fraud in societal structures as well as the prevalence of HIV and AIDS infection, especially among young people.

Therefore, dealing with the moral issues was just as important as dealing with the scourge of HIV and AIDS and other challenges faced by our society. Government recognises the importance of partnerships in nation building. These partnerships include each individual, each family, each community, each sector, each ministry and each organisation. Young people need support as well as the moral guidance provided from the church in fighting against the challenges of the day.

The Deputy President said there was scope for youth participation within MRM, where church youth could form its own MRM Youth Chapters to give room for strengthened participation of youth.

The young people have been encouraged to participate in the community service initiatives. They were told that through community service and voluntarism and education on the national symbols, young people could contribute to the delivery of important services to their communities, thus contribute to community solidarity, patriotism and social cohesion; and ultimately foster nation building and a caring society!

Furthermore, as young people in Gauteng they could immediately engage with the moral regeneration initiative, as the three Metropolitan Councils in Gauteng already had MRM structures conducting activities in the local and district municipalities.

"South Africa since its liberation has opened up many opportunities for young people which you must take with both hands and ensure that you use such opportunities to your benefit. For instance we have the National Youth Service Programme (NYSP), which is a government initiative aimed at young people who are unemployed; in conflict with the law; in higher education and those that are economically active," stated the Deputy President.

The programme involves engaging young people in service delivery, in the sectors of housing, infrastructure, water and sanitation, tourism, health and social development and educating and skilling them; therefore contributing to nation building.

The ongoing NYS Volunteer campaign is an attempt to raise awareness among youth (and public awareness) about the NYSP and mobilising them to get involved. The Deputy President said there were Further Education and Training (FET) at technical colleges, which was an alternative for those who wished not to pursue academic studies at secondary as well as post-secondary school level, either by choice or due to lack of entry requirements.

"In addition, there is the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA) which, through the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisitions (JIPSA), also aims at developing the skills capacity of our country. Young people must access these opportunities, it is your role to find out how you can utilise them to further your careers, start small businesses and become entrepreneurs," concluded Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka.

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Issued: The Presidency
28 January 2007
Source: the Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)