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05 Feb, 2020
UDM Youth Vanguard is disgusted by bully tendencies of the DA
For far too long, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has used every nefarious political tactic to tarnish the image and reputation of the of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and Comrade Mongameli Bobani with baseless accusations. The smear campaign against Mr Bobani started during the days of Athol Trollip and Mmusi Maimane without evidence. They continued to label Bobani as corrupt thereby indirectly saying the UDM is corrupt tarnishing its name without a just cause. DA claimed to have instructed Price Water Coopers to investigate Bobani and there were no findings that implicated Bobani that suggest he had been involved in any corrupt activities. Still under the little stunt of the leadership by John Steenhuisen the attack against Bobani continues. The UDMYV is not going to sit back and watch its mother-body being dragged to the mud by anyone in the DA. The DA must provide the UDM with proof of whatever wrongdoing by Bobani so that it can act. Mr Bobani has been subjected to unfair practices by the Hawks when they raided his home and his office during his tenure as the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. The hawks could not find anything committed by Bobani which against the law of the country. This must stop and time is now! John Steenhuisen, Mr Judas as affectionately called by his previous leader Mmusi Maimane must focus on leading the DA which is marred with racial tensions. He must show young South Africans that the DA is indeed an agent of transformation and not a racist organisation. Issued by: Yongama Zigebe UDMYV Gauteng Secretary
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14 Jun, 2019
Youth Day 2019: economic emancipation for the young
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) Youth Vanguard is concerned about the state of our nation since tough economic times leave the youth of South Africa out on the margins of economic participation. Our youth has for the past 25 years under democratic rule, been fighting for economic freedom, but in vain. We have been let down by the failure of every administration put in place to fulfil the promises made over the years. Since 1994 we have been out in the economic cold and had no say; nor had we become drivers of our economy due to the lack of leadership and political will to implement the so-called good policies that are meant to see young South Africans becoming economic drivers. With every recession and economic downfall, young South Africans take a huge knock as they are the majority of the population. Our education system is a major role player in marginalising the youth by not empowering them. It therefore, needs a complete overhaul in order to produce young South Africans who are job creators, innovators and not just job seekers and dependants. The UDM Youth Vanguard calls upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to take young people into his confidence, as there cannot be anything about young people without them. The youth must be directly involved in economic policy formulation and implementation. The president missed a critical opportunity to have a young deputy minister in the presidency responsible for women, youth and persons with disabilities, as that office is crucial to drive youth development, empowerment and creating synergy between all departments to drive youth economic participation. We invite interested young people to come together under one roof on the 17th of June for a Multiparty, Stakeholders Youth Symposium under the theme of “Youth and Democracy in 25 Years” at the Braamfontein Civic Centre, Old Council Chambers, in Johannesburg, at 10:00am. This will afford us young South Africans an opportunity to engage, debate and come up with solutions on how we can solve the challenges faced by South Africa pertaining to the youth. We wish all young South Africans a peaceful and reflective Youth Day, taking on the lessons learnt from the youth of 1976. The youth of today must honour our heroes and heroines by taking charge of their destiny. Issued by: Mr Yongama Zigebe Gauteng Provincial Secretary, UDM Youth Vanguard
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23 May, 2019
UDMYV: Young parliamentarians have a big task ahead
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) Youth Vanguard congratulates all the young persons who were sworn into the sixth democratic parliament. It is encouraging to see that quite a number of the members of parliament who took the oath yesterday represent the youth of South Africa. Yet, this happens at a time where our youth faces many challenges, such as plummeting unemployment prospects, the lack of fee free education and the struggle to start and finance their own businesses. Although some strides have been made, we still have a long way to go in terms of youth development. Our education system does not deliver innovators and entrepreneurs, but rather produces employees with no prospect of being employed. This constantly excludes young people from economic participation and wealth creation. We encourage young parliamentarians to run with youth issues, that position those matters, at the apex of the parliamentary agenda. One of those important issues are the eradication of sexism, gender-based violence and societal ills, like teen pregnancy. Not enough attention is paid to our young women in order to help them thrive in leadership roles and their professional lives. We don’t want to be paid hackneyed lip service, we demand change, and we call on all young parliamentarians to focus on an action orientated plan that comprehensively addresses our plight. A country that does not take care of its youth is a country going nowhere fast. We call on all young people to pressurise decision making bodies to give us hope that our dawn is nigh. Issued by Yongama Zigebe Gauteng Provincial Secretary UDM Youth Vanguard
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06 Feb, 2019
UDM Youth Vanguard: KZN student protests: the education department is yet again missing in action
The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDM Youth Vanguard) is disgusted and angry at higher education minister Naledi Pandor’s deafening silence when, year-by-year, students are driven to protest to get their basic right to education upheld. The dream of free tertiary education in South Africa is fleeting and the promise itself rings hollow. The ruling party has once again shown that they have no capacity to deliver on its promises made to needy students across the country. The Durban University of Technology (DUT) fatal shooting is one of many incidents propelled by the lack of urgency displayed by the education department and government in resolving not just issues at institutions of learning, but service delivery in our society at large. They always wait until the blood of the innocent is spilt on the streets of our country and then act as a mighty saviour whilst our peers die fighting for equality and freedom. The UDM Youth Vanguard feels that we are not free until the means of education is granted to all of us and the doors of equal opportunity are open to each and every young person in South Africa. We call on minister Pandor to intervene now, not only at the KwaZulu-Natal tertiary institutions, but also at the University of the Witwatersrand and other institutions that are going through a similar crisis, before the situation further deteriorates. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends and colleagues of the fallen young hero who died at the DUT. Issued by Mr Yongama Zigebe Gauteng Provincial Secretary, UDM Youth Vanguard
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20 Nov, 2018
UDM Youth Vanguard welcomes change in public service regulations
Our unemployed and despondent young people have become a mere statistic to measure joblessness in South Africa. They have given up and are lining the streets of our communities with their qualifications meaning nothing, because they have no experience. The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard therefore welcomes public service and administration minister Ayanda Dlodlo’s decision to change regulations to allow for the recruitment, at all entry-level posts in the public service, without prior experience. This important policy decision gives hope to millions of young people who have qualifications but find themselves jobless due to lack of experience. Although amending the regulations is a step in the right direction, having only changed entry level requirements for the public service is not adequate to absorb young unemployed South Africans into the job market. We call on government to place emphasis on innovation, creation and entrepreneurship as our economy needs young people who will create jobs. We, however, strongly feel that it is important that the government develops plans to ensure that this policy is implemented in a manner that does not compromise the quality of the public service and ensures its professionalisation. It should also not lead to the appointment of governing party loyalists to bring state departments under its control. Issued by Mr Yongama Zigebe Gauteng Provincial Secretary UDM Youth Vanguard
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04 Apr, 2018
UDM Youth Vanguard pays its respects to a woman of note: uMama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDM Youth Vanguard) grieves the passing away of the woman of who breast-fed the nation; hence we call her “The Mother of the Nation”. The UDM Youth Vanguard pays its respects to The Mother of the Nation who dedicated her entire life to the struggle. We join fellow South Africans in lauding a woman who distinguished herself as an unrelenting campaigner for the human rights of the oppressed masses of the past. In those years, non-white women where certainly the utmost marginalised and vulnerable members of society: she did the women of this country proud. Mama Winnie should therefore be admired by young South Africans as an example of what it means to have tenacity and to work hard to achieve one’s goals (even such a lofty goal as fighting for the liberation of an entire people). Mama Winnie, you set an example during each phase of your life, that should teach young people (especially young women and girls) what it means to be a strong and dedicated. Mama, the spirit you displayed must remain an inspiration to the young to continue with the struggle to transform South Africa into a Winning Nation. The UDM Youth Vanguard wishes that the Madikizela-Mandela families must mourn the passing away of uMama without tears; only because she had worked tirelessly and had done her part to make this Country free of minority domination and social cruelty. May your soul find rest in right place in Paradise; which we believe is better than Eden. Rest in peace Mama wesizwe soMzantsi Afrika. Issued by: Mr Mbongi Majija Chairperson of the UDM Youth Vanguard National Task Team
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16 Mar, 2018
Yongama Zigebe, of the UDM Youth Vanguard, takes the education campaign to the North West
The youth and locals of Rustenburg (in the North West) will have an opportunity to be exposed to the many exciting careers paths available to those on their road entering the South African job market or those who consider making a change from their existing work paths. UDM Youth Vanguard Gauteng Provincial Secretary Yongama Zigebe, who is also the Founder of the Yongama Levertte Foundation, will be one of the facilitators at the Annual Mamoretse Book and Career Fair. There is a dearth of information on career opportunities available to learners. The Mamoretse Book and Career Fair is a community development initiative that seeks to promote literacy and assist learners to make informed career choices. In making informed subject choices at secondary level, young South Africans will ensure their prosperous futures and enable them to contribute to the economic development in their own communities and South Africa at large. Details are as follows: Date: Saturday, 17 March 2018 Time: 10am Venue: Mamoretse Community Hall in Rustenburg
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09 Apr, 2015
Udm Youth Vanguard Condemns The Demolishing Of Statue
Statement issued by Mbongi Majija – On behalf of the UDMYV NATIONAL TASK TEAM The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard has noted, with utter disappointment, the recent uproar against the previous regime that resulted in a number of statues being defaced and demolished throughout the country. The UDMYV feels that destroying these colonial symbols won’t change the current struggles the country is dealing with such as high unemployment rate, health care system that is in shambles, the education crisis, high number of crime, corruption by government officials, etc. This uproar against these structures does not change who or what we have been through as a country. By destroying these sculptures we are attempting to hold our own history ransom. We cannot rewrite history. Apartheid is and will always remain part of our history, painful as it was. History will deal with us harshly if we now start behaving in the very same manner that we demonstrated and fought against during that very same apartheid era. These apartheid symbols are an indication of the history of our country. They are part of our heritage therefore we all need to defend this heritage for future generations. We cannot distort where we come from as a nation. A family without roots is not a proper family. What need to be fought are the systems of apartheid that are still in place in various institutions. Let us not create our own apartheid as the black nation.
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08 Jan, 2014
UDMYV reaction matric 2013
by Teddy Thwala, UDM Youth Vanguard President The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDMYV) congratulates all learners who have successfully completed their matric examinations as a result of hard work and dedication throughout the 2013 academic year. For those who have not succeeded, the UDMYV also wants to encourage you to try again and not give up. It does not end here! It is however disconcerting that in South Africa to pass some subjects with 30% or 40% is acceptable. Our school system promotes mediocrity it bestows favour of those who scrape through rather than rewarding those who work hard. A pass of 30% means that you are clueless about 70% of the work. The UDMYV welcomes the phasing out of Outcome Based Education (OBE), but the Department and the Minister must stop chopping and changing the curriculum at whim. This is confusing for the teachers and learners because they have to adapt every time this happens which is unfair to both parties.
