The Speaker of Council in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Colleen Makhubele, took to Jozi streets as part of June 16 Youth Day commemoration to remember the lives under the apartheid regime.
The Speaker visited the New Nation Combined School an institution for homeless young people and a heritage site built in year 1917 located in Vrededorp, Mayfair on 15 June 2023.
She had a brief meeting with the principal and the ward councillor Rickey Nair about the challenges faced by the school. She also engaged with the pupils about equipping themselves for the future.
“As young people, it is important that you understand and acquaint yourselves with the terms like artificial intelligence, digital economy and 4IR. You should not use your cellphones only for checking-in or dating. These gadgets can enhance your lives if used wisely,” said Cllr Makhubele.
The next visit was at Cosmo City Preschool where she engaged with the educators and toddlers as she sang and clapped along kindergarten songs. Thereafter she was warmly welcomed at Impilo Orphanage Home where they foster infants abandoned by mothers, mostly due to teen-pregnancy. According to the centre, the intake was more during the peak of Covid-19 in 2020.
She then went to the Green Door, a temporary shelter and support for survivors of rape and domestic violence in Diepsloot. She gave the women, who are mostly victims of domestic violence, words of support and encouragement.
“We came today to visit you and leave you with something to assist you, like vegetables, clothing and toys for the kids with the help of our sponsors, we are a caring city,” said Cllr Makhubele.
Diepsloot Youth Centre was the last visit. This is where a round-table discussion took place. The hall was filled with not only by the local youth but also students from the universities of Wits and Johannesburg who encouraged the youth to value education.
Pinky Khoabane, a guest speaker, spoke about prostitution being a result of food insecurity. “Prostitutes do not enjoy this work as it comes with lots of violence and substance abuse. They are forced by hunger, kidnapping, form of abuse etc. The government should come with ways to eliminate the scourge of hunger and not see prostitution as means of employment.”
Cllr Makhubele handed out vegetable packs, food packs, toys, books and dignity packs for girls at some of the venues.
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