Anglo American and Sowetan help youth to unleash their voices

The 2006 competition has been won by Asanda Shabangu (17), a pupil from Lilyfontein College in the Eastern Cape, who beat eight contestants and walked away with R30 000 prize money. Eduan van der Westhuizen (18) of Louis Trichardt High School in Limpopo and Feziwe Nthali (15) of Sibusisiwe High School in Mpumalanga came second and third and received R20 000 and R15 000 respectively.

And the winning schools received R10 000, R7 000 and R5 000 respectively.

Minister of Education Grace Naledi Pandor, Deputy-Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba and 1996 Young Communicators winner Bonginkosi "Zola" Dlamini of Tsotsi and Zola 7 fame graced the event, which took place at Ubuntu Kraal in Orlando West, Soweto, on Saturday, 10 June 2006, and marked the beginning of Youth Week and the 30 years of the 1976 Soweto student uprising.

As drugs, violence, alcohol and HIV/Aids have overtaken South African schools, pushing many pupils to underperform or drop out, critics have branded today's youth a "lost" and lazy generation, saying they have failed to emulate the 1976 youth's bravery and dedication.

Short-sighted critics

However, TV personality Zola accused these critics of being short-sighted and slammed the present government for failing to create an intellectual nation and delaying changes in the black communities. "Democracy does not still serve a black child," he said. "Our culture of learning is dying. Schools in Soweto and other townships are falling apart.

"We still have the same designs at schools just like in the apartheid era. There are still no sports facilities, computers or even books in black schools. And there is not much stimulation happening in our schools," Zola added, speaking with youthful exuberance.

"The 1976 youth could carry a coffin from a school to a graveyard and chant all the way because they were sober. Today' kids are psychologically messed up because they are exposed to alcohol, sex, drugs and violence brought by grownup people.

"We failed to bring changes and opportunities that will educate them. As a result, they can't get jobs and we are quick to say they are a lost generation. Let's not forget that we are all responsible for these failures."

Action and partnership

Pandor, fairly embarrassed by Zola's harsh comments, shyly told the audience that changes only occur through action and partnership. "Children of 1976 waited for no man and were well-prepared to make a positive contribution," she said. "The driver of change is a person himself or herself. A school is a place of respect, support and a sight of opportunity and critical engagement.

"What will convert a nation of victors into a nation of victimhood?" Pandor asked, adding that the answer does not lie in the stars but in people themselves.

But while politicians twist and turn, debate endlessly and scramble for power, the business community remarkably steps in to help turn things around. "We are translating our passion about South Africa into contributing very directly to the development of young people's self-belief and confidence, hoping they will become part of proficient human resources and future leaders of our country," Kaizer Nyatsumba, Anglo American's head of corporate marketing, told Bizcommunity.com.

Sowetan editor-in-chief Thabo Leshilo said the competition is just one of the many initiatives of the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Projects, which seeks to bridge social gaps created by apartheid. "As we firmly believe that the truth comes from the soul, we are trying - in line with Klaaste's ideals - to change society beyond the ability of journalism."

Day of soul truth

It was indeed a day of soul truth as demonstrated by the nine finalists in their respective prepared and impromptu sessions, whose topics ranged from fitness to human mind, identity, science, women and money. The judging panel included, among others, Thabiso Sikwane (SAfm Afternoon Talk host), Portia Kobue (Kaya fm head of news), John Perlman (SAfm AM Live host) and lecturer and corporate communications practitioner Celeste Shackleton.

Business entities such as Anglo Coal, Anglo Platinum, Black Mountain, Mondi Paper and Packaging SA, Model United Nations of SA, Namakwa Sands, Protea Hotels, Toastmasters International and the Department of Education also contributed in one way or another to the 2006 Young Communicators.