Limpopo

Childrens Parliament - Limpopo

PRESS RELEASE
NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT ON LEADERSHIP, LIMPOPO
24 May 2008

We the children and young people of Limpopo , in this first NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN`S PARLIAMENT on LEADERSHIP have, through discussion and debate learned many things about the conditions and circumstances of children and young people in our province. As a developing province, we in Limpopo still experience many social problems and challenges like rural development, poverty, inequality, discrimination, HIV/AIDS, crime and other social ills. We acknowledge that while the material condition of children and young people in the country has improved since freedom, not enough attention is being given to children in our province.

We have learnt much about ourselves and achieved much in process of enriching our minds. In acknowledging the problems of inequality, especially towards rural communities and children in those areas, we recognise that the task of government is so huge that we as society need to unite and work with them. We as children and young people must unite and create working partnerships with government in order to create a better South Africa for all. We have learnt through that through studious research and our own life experiences, we can bring a deeper understating of issues affecting us to the attention of those who are able to make quality changes in our lives. For example we can play an important role in making positive changes in education. We recognise that the Department of Education does not have strong communication with the youth in terms of the learning processes and related issues. It is not only the young people who face these difficulties but also adults and government itself. Through this partnership we as young people should recognise that we have the potential to change the circumstances of our lives.

Through knowledge we grow. We learn that as young people we are eager to receive knowledge and are, therefore, wonderful vehicles for learning and teaching. We need to find dynamic and exciting ways and strategies working with the government on issues that affect us.

Love is the strongest human emotion that brings human beings together and it should be the single most important point of unification amongst human beings in homes, in schools, in communities, amongst friends and enemies (no matter how difficult it is) amongst different kinds of people and cultures in society, in our young democracy and in the great continent of Africa and the World.

In this Province where there is still discrimination, inequality, poverty and rural underdevelopment, we as young people can learn from the example of the leadership of Mr Mandela and work to change the society positively.

The issue of xenophobia is an issue of protecting and defending our young democracy which has, as its pillar, the values of human rights and respect for human life and dignity of all. We are ready to defend these values.

Leader of the House: Themba Pakula

Deputy Leader of House: Musiiwa Raduvha

Leader of the Opposition: Rinae Sikhwari

Deputy leader of the Opposition: Masia Takalani

Speaker in Parliament: Bessie Malatji

Deputy Speaker: Lovemore Nemavhudu

Pictures from Limpopo Childrens Parliament