F R THE Y UTH BY THE Y UTH
YOUTH
DAY 2025
By Andiswa Khuboni, Nelson Mandela University student
Under-35 and UnderRepresented: SA Youth in Parliament
South Africa is a young country – literally As the youth we occupy space in almost every space – from media and technology to informal economies and higher education and training
We are the dreamers the hustlers the creatives the academics the workers the literal backbone of this country
But why are we so underrepresented where it matters most and where the decisions that affect our lives are taken – the Parliament of the Republic?
After the inauguration of new members into the National Assembly, Gayton McKenzie made headlines for appointing two of the youngest MPs in the 7th administration – namely, Cleo Wilskut (20) –the youngest EVER Member of Parlay – and Jazmine Peterson (22); and they were not the only ‘Cocomelon’ class in parlay
The Democratic Alliance (DA) al-
so appointing Liam Jacobs at the tender age of 24 and the Mkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) followed suit with the appointment of 21-yearold Shaggy Radebe (Mashamaite 2024) Great isn’t it?
Not until you learn that the average age of South African MPs in the 7th administration is 59 years old and this number would probably be much higher if it were not for Cleo Jazmine Liam and Shaggy – perhaps they are there to serve this end?
During SA’s sixth parliament a mere 9% of MPs fell under the youth category (18-35 years) This means that only 9% of all 400 MPs flew the flag for 21 million young people in the country In the seventh parliament, only 3% of MPs were in the 20-29 age group
In a country where youth unemployment (for those between ages of 16 to 24 years old) stands at a staggering 60 2%, questions must be asked about of the current make-up of our Parly if we are to truly make a dent to this embarrassing number
Ms Janet Love, the Vice Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)
told a press conference in July last year that the main reason for this underrepresentation is due to the “individual parties’ internal mechanisms” regarding the composition of their lists for National General Elections (NGEs) and further says while they can “encourage more representation they have absolutely no powers to create and enforce legislation towards this end” It is true that we occupy most spaces in the country and to be honest this should be the case But the hindrance to our involvement in mainstream national politics through parliament is perhaps the unwillingness by young people to get more involved after student life because of the poor transition mechanisms and gatekeeping that exists within South African political parties when they draw up their list of candidates
This means that young and capable student leaders can no longer rely solely on these credentials within the mother body, and this often means they must either leave the organisation entirely or wait it out for another 10-15 years to be considered for any real positions,
such as Members of Parliament due to their perceived lack of experience among many other reasons
One of these is access to big bucks Ransford and Anyihodo write that African politics are shaped by political players with to access to millions of rands in finance needed to run and win political office This creates a huge barrier to young and aspiring legislators who do not have access to these resources and the networks that supply it
But, it’s not all doom and gloom
We can break through and send more of our own to represent us in Parliament One of the ways we can do this is to mobilise youth within our communities
This means it falls to young people to rise to the occasion in the face of poor service delivery, mass unemployment and general lawlessness in our communities We can do this through creating and driving initiatives that are aimed at redress and addressing these challenges
Having an organized approach consolidates and legitimizes our aims to be represented
Instead of focusing fundamen-
tally on Parly we can start off by aiming to occupy seats in our local municipal councils through local political parties
The IEC reports that young people aged 20 to 39 make up just less than a third of all local councillors SA will again go to the polls in late 2026
A bottom-up approach does not equate to lack of ambition but may represent a co-ordinated reform agenda which will allow us to build governance and accountability capacities and experience while we climb higher and higher
Nobody will take youth seriously if we all want to start at the top
In any case, there are people who will make a far better impact being closer to and serving their communities – as is in local politics
We have a responsibility to address the systems that exclude and oppress South Africa’s young people Unless action is taken soon, the lack of representation situation is likely to grow more challenging
The urgency is clear Doing nothing is no longer an option
What happens next depends on the choices we make now
Abongile Stamper, Grade 12, Curro Westbrook
Carys Richards, Grade 10, Curro Westbrook
Luke Schulze, Grade 7, Clarendon Park Primary School
Uyanda Grootboom, Grade 7, Clarendon Park
Maya Clarke, Grade 7, Clarendon Park
Ben Flecher, Grade 7, Clarendon Park
ART
POETRY
Emily Ball, Grade 11, Collegiate Girls’ High School, 17
Resilience is a Baobab Tree
That child over there wanders the streets, left to only dream of what comes next
A monotonous life for that child over there, forever stuck in the loop of poverty s prison
That child has friends and siblings too who can only dream of what we do
The child cries rivers and begs and asks for the help of the Man, their cries falling upon deaf ears
The Man turns his eyes to the people who are not begging not crying nor complaining and offers his support
The child, left standing, turns down their damp eyes picks up a forgotten coin and prays
That child over there will never feel the grasp of Mother Africa’s loving arms for she was taken away long ago
Yet that child over there, as many times as it takes, will rise again each morning, only a coin to their name, and dream of what comes next
Mange Jike, Grade 11, Lawson Brown High
(2k) Sad Reality
Just as one paper has burnt a hundred trees, so has mankind set fire to humanity
It is said that it takes a village to raise a child; little do they know, they are daises amongst vultures
Just as one paper has burnt a hundred trees, so has mankind set fire to security
To numb the agony of life s choices, I keep a smile on my face through weed, continuously
But much to your information, when the note tones down my soul weeps furiously
Daily, I feel trapped in my mind suffocated by my agony
With the assistance of liquor my thoughts set my mind on fire
Yet again, much to your information my bedroom becomes a well of tears every night
Anxiety plays with my peace like it’s a game of chess Whereas depression has become an old acquaintance
They said a child that sings is a happy child; I bleed out my pain through melody, yet no one heard me
Still I drown in my tears, every night
I lay numb with lifeless emotions, high in ecstasy
As the sun rises yet again, I set a smile on my face
And put up facade one cannot pace
entrepreneurs building futures at Mandela University
Khazimla Suka, Grade 11, Willow Academy
To be loved by a writer I have tried to find myself In the spaces between pages, In the echoes of words unsaid, But every time I reach for me, I find you instead I have tried to put myself first, To stand in the light of my own name, But love – stubborn and relentless –Wraps itself around my ribs, Pulling me toward you again Perhaps I was born this way, Stitched together with longing, A poet who bleeds for others, Who gives and gives
Until nothing is left to rhyme with Her own name
Life is a fleeting story, A poem half-finished, A candle flickering against the wind,
And yet we walk as if we are endless, As if time is something we own
But I have seen how quickly a soul Can turn to memory, How love can outlive the heart that carried it
So I love fully and recklessly, Even when it costs me myself
Loyalty is my burden,
A weight I do not wish to set down, For what is a writer if not someone Who loves too deeply, Who holds on even when the world
Says let go?
And so I love, even when it hurts, Even when I am lost in spaces
Between what I give and what I
keep
Because to be loved by a writer
Is to never be forgotten, To be inked into eternity, To exist beyond flesh and bone, To live in the whispers of verses Long after the world has turned cold
To be loved by a writer
Is to be carved into constellations, To have your name stitched between the lines
Of every love poem yet to be written
It is to be made infinite –
Even when the body is gone, Even when the heart has stilled
You will live in every metaphor, In the spaces between letters, In the ink that refuses to fade
For a writer does not let go, A writer does not forget
They turn love into legend, Pain into poetry,
And you – you will always exist
As long as words remain
But to love a writer
That is something else entirely
It is to love someone
Who sees the world as a story, Who feels everything too deeply, Who turns heartache into beauty
It is to be held between the lines
Of every verse they will never read aloud,
To be both muse and memory, To be cherished and dissected, Woven into sentences
And left behind in the margins
To love a writer
Is to know that even in distance, Even in silence, You will never truly leave them
For they do not say goodbye
They just write a different ending
Sibulele Mayedwa, Grade 12, Masifunde Learner Development
Green warriors: How South African youth are leading the Climate Fight
By Sinoxolo Bosi, Nelson Mandela University student
On a humid Friday morning in KZN , a 23-year-old Nokuthula Ngobese puts on her old sneakers, wears old worn out gloves and rallies her team at the nearest river known as Mfihlakaleni River The team’s mission is to collect and recycle old snack packets, plastic bottles, and old car tires that litter the river This is the cleanup project that she started after seeing the effect polluted water had on her neighbors
“We are just youngsters,” Nokuthula giggles , balancing a bucket full of mud on her hand , she says “but if we do not clean here , who will?”
Across South Africa, young eco-warriors like Nokuthula are determined to fight the climate change and the environmental destruction by fixing these issues heads on They do so by starting recycling campaigns , planting trees for oxygen ,organizing climate protest and raising awareness through the use of social media This is all to push change in a country facing harsh climate impacts in the world
South Africa is one of the most carbon intensive economies in the continent, it relies heavily on coal-fired power Over the past years, South Africa has faced droughts, water shortages, floods and collapsing biodiversity , these are all signs of a clear warming planet For many young South Africans, the climate issue is something that they feel daily its not a daily global issue Climate change deepens the existing inequalities in South Africa , hitting rural and low income communities the hardest Young people are living the impacts of climate change every day, from water scarcity to energy issues But usually they are excluded from key policy conversation
Despite the challenges,
many South African youngsters are not depending on the government or large organisations to act They are mobilizing in the places they live in , they are doing all this because they are driven by hope
For Nokuthula, this all started when she noticed that local children are getting sick by consuming and playing in the polluted river water She then started mobilizing her classmates and friends to join her weekend cleanup drives
Today, her small team collects over 30kg of waste each week, they then sort recyclables, and run workshops at surrounding schools on the dangers of consuming the river water as well as the dangers of plastic pollution
“Honestly it can get tiring sometimes,” Nokuthula admits She states that people look down on them like they are wasting time But when they see a plastic bottle in the river or when someone who is interested in helping them collect the waste, it all feels worth it
In Eastern Cape, Roy Jacobs (22) started a community garden project in Peddie Armed with a learnership certificate in Plant Production, Roy helped turn the small scale vegetable project into a full-scale urban farm that produces fresh produce to over 100 local families Roy was inspired to do this after attending a Greenpeace Africa youth workshop in 2023 and that is where he learnt about food security in relation to climate change
“We’re not just talking about climate change,” Roy comments He argues that they are motivating other people that they can build resilience right here, in their communities But youth motivators carry the most stress They suffer from lack of funding , they do not get enough support from the public, they crash out because the government inaction carries a heavy
weight on their efforts Some feel frustrated by the slow motion of political change
We have a shortage of big resources Roy says, but we have passion, and we know that if we rely on the government , we ll wait forever
South African youth are a large part of a larger global wave of climate activism Inspired by Greta Thunberg and by movements like Fridays for future and Extinction Rebellion Youth, they are connected to a worldwide network calling out urgent climate action However, the South African context brings unique challenges
According to Ayakha Melithafa, Director of African Climate Alliance, South African youth faces the intersection of social inequality and climate injustice
Many young activists here
are also dealing with poverty, unemployment and inequality they face in the system, they are facing these issues while already dealing with climate issues Ayakha explains: Their fight is about justice on many levels
Ayakha was also a representative of South African youth at the UN Youth Climate Summit and is on the Presidential Climate Commission, says local activism is sometimes overlooked by mainstream media yet it plays a vital role
Community-based projects, urban farming , and the grass cutting and cleaning are all powerful scalable solutions The youth are showing the real meaning of climate leadership
For all the youth in South Africa who are interested in making a difference , there are
many ways to start
● Use your voice on social media by sharing valid sources, raise awareness on local climate campaigns
● Join a local clean up campaign , connect with a community group or school based groups
● Launch a project where you can recycle even small waste that you collect at home or at school can make a huge difference
● Check out national youth campaigns and groups like Climate Alliance, Greenpeace Africa Youth and familiarise
yourself with those groups so that you can get lead or motivation on how to make a difference Back at Mfihlakaleni River, Nokuthula stops to wipe sweat from her face as she surveys the progress made by her campaign on the river Some days , I get really exhausted she admits But then I remember: if we don t do it ourselves who will? We may be young but we can do it all when we want to and have all the strength and energy to continue And this is just the beginning, more is yet to come
Isobella-Sophia Lemmer, Grade 7, Clarendon Park
Mienke Kok, Grade 7, Clarendon Park
Emma Brackstone, Grade 5, Clarendon Park
POETRY
Jennifer de
roses and oaks
I was such a pretty rose
Blooming with life and colour
Doing everything that was expected of me
As a young sapling
But then they took me out of the ground
And expected me to bloom even more,
To grow into the magnificent oak
That held supreme power over the garden
But I m not an oak
I would never be an oak
I can t bloom where I am;
Not the way they or I want me to
So I start to wilt,
My petals shrivelling in the beaming sun
Without the nutrients of the soil I grew up with
Expected to rival the mighty oak
They re sad now
I m sad now
My once vibrant petals facing the expanse of the ground
That the mighty oak revels in I could ve been such a pretty rose, But they wanted an oak
Dopamine
Flooding me
Repeatedly
Watching Eyes
Blue light beams in the dark of the morning against acne clad skin red rimmed eyes
Staring Engrossed by a single piece of once molten sand and bits and pieces of machine that I shall never fully understand a Kaleidoscope of narcotic, beguiling beauty appealing to your every desire and feeling I have never seen Or will ever see
A perfect scene
Because my future is only as bright
As the words and images on my screen allow me to be
Incessantly
It's all-consuming
A vicious vivacious
vacuum
Veiled as all that you once loved do love and will ever love
But it lies
It warps it's words of 'wisdom'
It twists the truth
To that of tall tales of the tarnished and tainted
Painting perilous pasts
As those of mere indifference And mistakes
It knows you more than you know you
Its only a question of when you will know that too It's watching It views
Will it lead you askew?
Jade Meyer, 16, Grade 10, Theodor Herzl High School
Kock, 18, Grade 12, Collegiate Girls’ Highschool
Kristen Botha, Grade 11, Collegiate, page-0002
Morgan Wilson, Grade 11, Curro Westbrook
SECOND RUNNER-UPS
ARTICLE
Ainy Munir, Rania Yon, 16, Grade 10, Collegiate Girls High School
Growing up presents many challenges for the youth but the specific time during a person’s teenage years can be particularly difficult Being a teenager is in its own way the most challenging years of a person’s life Figuring out how to navigate this time of your life as a teenager takes a lot of time and needs a lot of assistance from others
Teenagers need people they can rely on to help them handle this confusing period of their lives
However their needs and struggles are often disregarded or taken too lightly putting them in danger
People often tend to think of teenagers as young adults forgetting that they are still children and therefore vulnerable This leads to too many teenagers being abused isolated and exploited
“ She whose arms wrap around her manipulator so unknowingly ”
Many teenagers are in abusive relationships that they are groomed into believing are safe and normal They believe their abusers are people they can trust and rely on without realising they are being exploited
Perpetrators prey on their vulnerability and their need for a safe environment
They coerce these young people into doing things such as sharing private photos of themselves or forcing them into doing other things they are uncomfortable with, and if they disagree they are threatened and manipulated into feeling guilty and ashamed
It becomes difficult for them to speak up as they begin to believe that nobody will believe them The trauma they experience leaves an impact that lasts for years “ She whose body wavers in the mirror and begs to be called hers ”
“She whose eyes well up quietly telling
stories no one will hear ”
Teenagers need community They need people to be around friends family a community in which they feel a sense of belonging and people who will listen to what they have to say Isolation is a dangerous thing for teenagers
During this time of their lives teenagers are still forming a sense of identity and finding where they belong in the world It’s an incredibly stressful confusing time for them and they still haven’t developed the coping skills adults usually have to tackle situations such as isolation Feeling isolated and shunned from the world can lead to teenagers having depression anxiety and in some cases suicidal tendencies “ She whose heart beats to rhythms not welcomed by the world” “She whose labour fills their pockets is still shackled with hope ”
Criminal exploitation is a big danger for teenagers as criminals take advantage of their vulnerabilities to force them into stealing or transporting drugs Many families struggle to pay for necessities due to the high cost of living
Teenagers who experience this kind of stress and uncertainty at home are good targets for criminals They might offer a young person the opportunity to earn ‘easy money’ to support their family or provide a fun environment away from the demands of their home life This type of criminal exploitation can happen both online, like on social media, or offline, such as within communities
“She whose fearlessness perseveres through her struggle will eventually prevail ”
There needs to be change in our society We must be aware of the issues that teenagers are facing and give them the protection and support that they need to overcome their struggles
CREATIVE WRITING
try to understand their perspectives
POETRY
HIGH SCHOOL POEM:
Aqhama Poyama, Grade 12, Collegiate Girls High School
Quiet Shadows Of My Mind
A whisper in the dark, it starts so small,
A fragile hum, a voice that’s barely there at all
But soon it grows, a tidal wave inside,
A storm of doubt I can’t seem to hide
Thoughts cascade like thunderclaps in my head,
Questions unspoken, words left unsaid,
Critiques echo, harsh and relentless,
Every move scrutinised, every word defenceless
My heart races a million times a minute,
A frantic drumbeat, I can never quit in it
Fears coil tight around my chest,
A constant battle, never at rest
The words I long to speak, trapped and confined,
Fears of rejection, of being undermined
I place others feelings higher than my own,
Dimming my voice, making me bleed alone
Every glance, every sigh, feeds my despair,
Wishing I could escape from this endless snare
For in my silence, I scissor my soul,
Seeking connection yet losing control
But oh, how I ache for a moment to breathe,
To silence this storm, to begin to believe,
That my voice matters, that I am enough,
And in my silence, I am more than just tough
ART
Take me for instance, my life orientation asked what my dream job is and I told the truth that it is to become a ‘space astronaut’
“Letter to the Youth”
This letter is a dedication to all South African Youth which means different genders, races, different kind of mindsets or different point of viewing things and how wee change situations
Everything we do is different and it s impact is also different, but that is not bad because everyone is trying to be unique in their own way, We the youth are all filled with diverse types of ambitions, but one thing I know is that everyone has a dream of creating a better South Africa
Particularly me, I dream of a happy place where we can all understand one another Uniqueness should not create tension or tear us apart, but it is our uniqueness that mu unite us so that we can cultivate a better world that benefits all of us in order for us to do good for one another
We can do so by avoiding and preventing racism We are all South African, in regardless of our race and where we come from, so when something strikes, we have one another
Also, we the youth tend to judge each other, or criticize all because of circumstances we tend to face That is ought to come to an end
We should not judge, we should rather join hands to help those in need Let us try to put ourselves in the people’s shoes then
Firstly, for you young moms, women, teenage girls of South Africa, why should you suffer in your own country, why is it that the place you call home make you feel intimidated, hurt, unsafe, judged Stand up, make yourself whatever you want to be but make sure the decision you take has a positive impact on you
Stop being a victim of GBV, learn to fight for yourself, take a stand for your rights
There is a lot of judging and criticizing amongst us females, like what happened during the justice for Cwecwe category
A girl posted that she was also a victim of rape by his father We should have felt her pain but disappointingly we criticized saying she was enjoying it What is that? Is that how we should act towards one another? Criticize instead of condoling We should help one another because we are one South Africa is a united country; we should unite us females to bring about change
It hurts to watch how young females are being treated We are dead from the inside yet we smile and we are dead because of one another
Why can’t females combine to make one big thing We must not let gender discrimination make us feel small, rather as a female you should dream big It is not always gender discrimination sometimes we discriminate against each other by not believing in other’s ambitions
One girl said to me I can never become an astronaut because it requires strong people like men and she said there are few opportunities in South Africa
I did not expect that statement from a girl I expected words of support that will give me power not haunt me Why do we always criticize each other?
Why can’t we all be sisters who love each other, care for each other, protect each other, and feel each other’s pain?
For the opposing gender, I may not know the problems you occur when you are together, but I do know the things we go through because of you Stop being destroyers and start to become protectors Start to live up to your expectations
Don’t tarnish your dignity by doing things that put a bad reputation to manhood you are the leaders of tomorrow, in fact we are all leaders of tomorrow, but you are future father’s, so start to act like one Do not let us girls fear your presence
In essence you are all boys and men, hence protect each other, love each other and support one another, be like a united gender who will end our fear
For every youth of South Africa let us create history again Let us become the youth of 1976 that broke the Soweto Uprising to bring about change in the world that gave us freedom
Their heroistic work brought change that still offer us even today, their sweat and
blood brought justice So let us integrate to make history Let us dwell into a journey to tomorrow which will create change in the way we think, in homes and society Which can cause unity to the other parts of the world
By using educational awareness about youth development and organizations If we dream of a beautiful country then the is a journey that needs to be taken which is forgiveness and goodness The are diverse choice whereby we can choose who we are and what we want to be
In addition I say let us make South Africa a vibrant country full of an active youth that will champion justice I have been talking about change and unity but I did not give a full explanation on the concepts
The change I am referring to is viewing and treating each other in a different way, which is positive, which will create respect among the youth no matter the race nor gender
Then unity means togetherness and support, if we unite then we would be creating South African’s next big thing, furthermore, a united form requires the almost impossible art of mastering the difference but yet the equality between masculinity and femineity
Being able to respect one another not only as humanity but as opposite sexes is very important
There is a huge disconnect between males and females when it comes to understanding each other, hence forth we face gender - based violence, gender inequality and the genocide of femineity
Hlumelo Ntoyaphi, Grade 10, Walmer High School
Zukhanye Thapelo Qunta, Grade 10, Newton Technical High School
Nischal Pillay, Grade 4, Grey Junior
FIRST RUNNER-UPS
Creative Writing: Nicole Ndlovu, Grade 10, Walmer High School
Talent these days is nothing to the current youth with just a little grit , motivation and a lot of determination anything is possible
Dreams have become reality because of such mentality and young kids become rich with just a blink of the eye
They turn all their intrests into something of profit, something they can live on
The youth of South Africa especially has youth that are not just visionary but passionate
Interests being a thing of entertainment and laughs is now a thing of the past the wheels of time have turned and we have now entered an era of freedom and choice
The new blood has shown the old how what was once unrealistic is now the only way to live
Those who loved to sing are now award winning artists, those who love to game are now world renowned professional E players immersed in the world of E sports
Now even the old generation has entered into the playing field reigniting their interests and passion’s into something phenomenal, just scrolling on your social media app you can see
your grandmother dancing to the newest trend and doing it better than you at that
Social media has helped so many kid’s to make a name out there for themselves just by doing what they love and showing their interests, promising artists are being appreciated, promising singers are now on the global stage and are now making a living out of it by just having the time of their lives
Leaving what you love and quiting, breaking your inner child just to get an office job to provide for yourself and your family is now foreign language to the youth they are now travelling the world being influencers, tiktokers or out of office workers enjoying their youth to the fullest
Parents are now encouraging their children to be more proactive and to have more hobbies and interests so that they can broaden their horizons to open more opportunities and options for their future
Being unrealistic in your choice of work is nothing to the unwavering determination of the youth Interests are now not a thing of touch and go but are now a part of daily lives intergreted into the way we think, talk and act it revolves around everything we do and keeping some from doing irreversible mistakes
High School Poem: Zukhanye Christian, 18, Grade 12, Victoria Park High School
The challenges faced by youth
Dear reader
I am youth I seek truth
I seek to address an issue
However every obstacle I face
Guarded by the fabrication of deception
Lies in my way
I am youth
Is it rare to declare that society has tainted
The image of life I had painted as sainted and
Have I become unacquainted with individuality?
I am youth
I seek personality in influencer abilities
I make it their responsibility
To affirm my “originality ”
I am youth
It is not rare that I see the posts the stories and likes I wonder is that all where myths revive?
I am youth
The formation of disinformation
And all that my soul seems to desire to survive on
Becomes reality
Is that neutrality?
I am youth
CREATIVE WRITING ARTICLE POETRY
By Tumelo Mangidana, Nelson Mandela University student
How South African rural learners succeed through adversity?
Being a rural learner coming from a poor background never determined my future, no matter how dull it was then, because I always knew from the start that I had to work very hard to chase my dreams regardless of obstacles, and nothing could stop me even if I did not have enough learning resources , said 19 years old Inga Mkalali former Xolilizwe SSS matriculant from Willowvale, Eastern Cape
When Inga was 17 and preparing for his matric exams, he worked extremely hard because he wanted nothing more than to pass and fulfil his dreams He woke up early each morning and headed to the classroom, where he believed his future lay
Being a rural learner did not discourage him; instead, it motivated him to remain dedicated so he wouldn t disappoint his parents and could rise above his circumstances
Despite sometimes going to bed on an empty stomach, he remained determined
He believed that regardless of whether he came from a rural school with limited resources or not, he could still perform well academically just like students from well-resourced urban schools
Rural schools in South Africa fare the worst when it comes to Maths and science
According to the Department of Education 2023 National Senior Certificate report, Mathematics
pass rates in schools from rural areas are lower than those of the schools from urban areas Rural provinces such as the Eastern Cape (21 8%), KwaZulu-Natal (27 2%), and Limpopo (24 5%) fair much worse than Gauteng (33 5%) and Western Cape (43 0%) Physical Sciences is also low among these schools: Eastern Cape with 27,7%, KwaZulu-Natal (32 1%), and Limpopo (28 5%), and the urban schools in provinces such as Gauteng (36 0%) and Western Cape (46 4%)
South Africa s Department of Basic Education has reveal that 464 schools do not offer mathematics anymore, the most affected provinces are KwaZulu-Natal, with 135 schools not providing mathematics; Eastern Cape with 84; Limpopo, with 78; and Western Cape, with 61 Why do rural schools in South Africa have a high rate of students who underperform in Mathematics and Sciences compared to urban schools?
Urban schools perform well in maths and science because they have access to technology, advanced learning resources, libraries, qualified teachers, opines Vizicelo Mbashe (19)
Vicizelo completed his matric in 2024 at Sulenkama SSS, Qumbu, Eastern Cape
They have money to seek extra assistance, such as getting tutors for critical subjects; they do not struggle to speak and understand English because they can speak the language fluently, unlike us rural learners and they also have transportation which is an advantage for them because they do not have to
I have succumbed to society
I survive daily on the reach for status
In a world that beckons for no stages to success
Instantly gratified is what I seek to nullify
Is all I am meant to stand by?
miss class due to harsh weather,” he said
Inga who is now enrolled for an Education degree Senior Phase majoring in Maths and Science, thinks that a lack of learning resources is a major challenge rural school learners encounter compared to urban school learners
For science students it is difficult for them to conduct any practical because there are no labs with resources that that can assist them in understanding the concept better so they only must do theory which is sometimes difficult to understand without demonstrations
For that reason they must spend more hours doing theory so that they can at least understand what was supposed to be practical “In Mathematics most learners could not afford calculators which is a serious problem and there are no study guides for Mathematics ” said Physics teacher Songezo Noginya Noginya who instructs students at Sulenkama SSS in Qumbu Eastern Cape has been a teacher for 10 years
In 2024 Department of Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga told The South African website that while maths remains a high-priority subject many rural schools lack resources such as technology and internet to go online and find other ways that can assist them or offer demand to both maths and mathematic literacy
A 2013 study by Tachie and Chireshe found that most of the students at the time felt that they fail maths because teachers were not always in the classroom to teach (78%) maths is naturally a difficult subject (79 2%) and poor attitudes of learners towards maths (76 3%) The shortage of
Wait
Until I am on headlines?
I am youth
The coerce of this world does not taunt
Yet when faced with social standards
I am but a lost soul in this game of catch and caught
I am youth
Caught
Caught in the grasp
Of stereotypical norms
And placed into a box
Where the conditions of confinement
Became nothing but
My own preferences
Exposure which influences my perception
I am youth
Accepting no exceptions
There is a misconception
I am youth
I seek the company of those around me
Although alone while surrounded
Facing distraught emotions
Forced to seek the closest light in
The cigar I used to endure the night
I am youth
I never acclimatized to coercion
I adjusted to complacency
So as I live by this
My desperation to fit in
Becomes despair
Anguish and agony
See?
I am youth
Lately I have questioned the truth
Answer me dear reader
Eradicate any falsehood
mathematics teachers available in schools plays a vital role in the failure of learners, as the teachers will not finish all the topics before the exams take place
The majority (60%) of learners blamed their high failure rate in mathematics to incompetence of mathematics teachers in their schools
“Parents for instance come to our school concerned more about their children’s Maths performance and tried to seek alternatives whereby the former Mathematics teacher was changed so parents are hands on trying to search for better teachers in presenting subject matter and have contribution financially to ensure that the school does not lack finances to find to an extra hand from outside teachers who are going to act as tutors ” said Noginya
From the research it was that failing and having to repeat a class is a major contributor in students’ lives and results indicated that most common emotions among students who had repeated a class included shame (80%) anger (77 4%) anxiety (61%) and boredom (61%)
Despite the challenges faced 3 of the 5 learners from rural schools are likely to pass grade 12
Mbashe was able to make to the top five of achievers in his school passing Maths with 73% Life Sciences with 81% and Physical Sciences with 78%
He is registered for an Engineering degree at the University of Johannesburg
Khanyisa Tata 21 years old 2021 matriculant passed her matric with seven distinctions She comes from rural areas and she did her Bachelor of Accounting at the University
of Johannesburg
She said she used using podcasts and online videos to help her succeed
“I used YouTube to listen to online tutorial which helped me understand some of the schoolwork I couldn’t understand otherwise For Accounting and Economics I used Mindset and Woza Matrics YouTube channels specifically lessons by Ashraf Patel ” said Khanyisa
Vicizelo used past exam question papers to revise joined study groups and start tutoring one of my classmates who needed my help as a way to learn and cope
Siyavula an online platform is answering the desperate need to improve outcomes in Mathematics and Science with a product that is designed to work on even low and internet-connected mobile devices and a site that is zero-rated on MTN Vodacom and Telkom
This gives learners with limited support and often inadequate classroom instructions access to a world-class education incorporating both texbooks and an interactive practice platform
“Department of Education has Learner Attainment Improvement Structure (LAIS) which assists schools with vacation schools weekend camps whereby it provides tutors in certain schools to improve performance of critical subjects like Maths and science and provides free learning materials and teachers are workshopped so that they meet the standards where they will assist students improve their performance ” said Noginya
“It takes passion and discipline to do well at school and achieve your goals ” said Noginya
WINNING POEMS
Lance Damons, Grade 12, Sanctor High
“Directions a lost soul at a crossroads” I was thirteen
Thirteen when the silence got louder than the voices around me
Fourteen when I realized laughter wasn t a language I understood anymore
I watched the world through a cracked glass it didn t break all at once, just splintered slowly every time someone said, It s just a phase
Man up
You ll grow out of it
You called it mood swings
I called it mourning for the person I might ve been if someone had just stayed long enough to listen, not fix me
Not diagnose me
Just sit with me while the world turned into noise
You told me to smile like it was a commandment
Told me to lighten up
while stitching your expectations into my skin with threads made of shame, woven tight with guilt, the kind you pass down like heirlooms
You said,
Don t let the darkness win, while locking all the doors at night, tightening the blinds,
Meekha Pillay, Grade 5, Collegiate
I see a girl, With curls and With shoes on her feet
I see a girl, In rags and With nothing to eat Hand in hand together, They play together, Laugh together
They don t care, About what they wear, Only about the friendship, That they share
shutting the windows on the parts of me screaming to be seen
I wrote letters to God on napkins soaked in tears and leftover medication
Never mailed them
Didn t see the point
Figured He stopped listening when I stopped pretending
I screamed into my pillow
so no one would hear how broken I sounded
Not because I was ashamed but because I was tired
Tired of explaining pain to people who only speak denial
So many nights, I practiced breathing like it was a skill
I d never fully master
Inhale
Hold Hope Exhale
Fail
Repeat
Because survival felt like an exam I wasn t smart enough to pass
You fed me mantras,
Be strong
Push through
Get over it
Like I was lazy
Like I wanted this
Like I wasn t dragging myself through trenches you refused to even look at
My mind isn t a home it s a warzone
Every thought a bullet fired from somewhere I can t see
Every breath, a negotiation with a body that doesn’t want to stay
You handed me glue made of judgment and called it love
Offered me bandaids made of Bible verses and told me it was enough to heal wounds you never dared to touch
But where were you when my lungs refused to believe in tomorrow?
When getting out of bed felt like dragging a mountain on my back just to brush my teeth?
Where were you when my reflection became a stranger, when the mirror whispered, You don t belong here, and I believed it?
You told me I was being dramatic
That others had it worse
Like pain had a scoreboard
Like grief only mattered if it came in gold
You said I was selfish for wanting the noise to stop
But you never heard it, did you?
The voices that don t have
names
The thoughts that scratch like nails on glass at 2 in the morning, when the world is asleep and I m alone in a room full of ghosts that only I can see I showed up to school with hollow eyes and tired smiles, and you called me brave because I kept quiet
But silence isn’t bravery
Sometimes, it's just surrender in slow motion I held onto the edge of this life like a boy dangling from the last thread of a worn-out rope hoping someone might look up and see me before my fingers gave out
But they never did
They only noticed when I didn t laugh at the joke
When I flinched at loud sounds
When my hoodie stayed on even when the sun came out
They didn t ask why my texts got slower, why I stopped answering calls
They just got tired of waiting and left
You told me to fight my demons but never asked their names
You just assumed they looked like monsters
But sometimes, they look like me when I stare into nothing for too long
Or you when you say I love you but never show up when I fall
The truth is:
I am exhausted from being a boy who has to act like a man just to be taken seriously in a world that calls emotion a weakness and silence strength I am tired of performing happiness like it s the only ticket to being loved
I am tired of being a storm
asked to be a clear sky for the comfort of others
And the worst part?
You looked me in the eye with your hands stained red from my unraveling, and you dared to say:
Don t give up You re stronger than this
But where was that strength when I was screaming for help in ways you didn t care to understand?
You said,
Fight your demons, when you were the one giving them directions
But I m still here
Not because it s easy
Not because it got better
But because I learned that surviving, even silently, is still surviving
That even if my joy is quiet, my pain still deserves to be heard
That I am not a burden just because my heart is heavy
That boys can cry, can break, can bleed, can ask for help and still be brave
So if you re listening, truly listening hear this:
There are boys like me still trying
Still waking up with no reason but breath itself
Still fighting a war they didn t start in a world that tells them not to look hurt while losing
And that That is the quietest
Anga Benge, Grade 10, Curro Westbrook
Kungawo Nyoka, Grade 7, Masifunde Learner Development
WINNERS
CREATIVE WRITING
By Siphosethu Nabo, Grade 11, Walmer High School
Peer
pressure
We as the young people of South Africa feel pressure from parents, teachers and friends
The pressure that people is pressure from friends how they pressure us to go out to groove and drink or even smoke but we as young people are mostly pressured by parents, teachers and every one older than us
We grow up hearing that we are the future of the country Yes, we agree that we are the future of the country but let us create our own future
We are now realising that you don t involve us in anything the only time you involve us is when you need our votes so that you can be the president or the leading party in South Africa
It is so sad that the youngest person in parliament is 35 years old the minister of Basic education from the political party called DA let us create our own future the future that we deserve
Now days we are forced to do certain subjects because they want doctors and lawyers but yet they do nothing older people complain about our government not being able to deal with crime, we were never going to experience crime if we encouraged to do what we want half of these people who do crimes are people who were very clever but they were treated in a not respected way and they became poor and crime is the only way they can get their daily needs
We are the young people of this country yes we are the future but
ARTICLE
By Athini Dyosoba, Nelson Mandela University student
Cost of success: Matrics stress about uncertainty in the future
Higher education in South Africa is still a privilege that many people cannot afford Even when systems such as national student financial support programs (NSFAS) are to support students from the poor and workers, the demand is very high, and the funding is often limited According to The Citizen, NSFAS received over 936,000 applications for 2025 However, only about 668,000 received provisional funding, leaving many hopeful students uncertain about their future
This is the fear that 18-year-old Sinethemba Mthiza, a student in matric from a village called Dumsi in Alfred Nzo West district in the Eastern Cape, expressed “I want to study teaching next year, but my family has no money NSFAS is my only hope I am afraid I won’t get it If they say no, then what? I stay home and I do nothing? "
Sinethemba’s concerns are resolved by many others Mail & Guardian reported that NSFAS budget cuts could leave more than 87,000 students without funding in 2024, Making it in more difficult cir-
let us make our own decision, let us be what we want to be, involve us in the decision making of this country because in the end we are going to be leaders
So let us Be We have so many young people who are dealing with
depression and anxiety because of the pressure from parents that they need to be doctors because their parents did not get the chance to be a doctor then we get pressure from school the amount of work that a learner is getting is
too much
There is a quote that was said by Mandela that the key to success is education they must try to find a different key because school is tiring you find that we spend so many hours at school and you find
cumstances for learners to access higher education
Stress, Mental Health, and Academic Performance
The stress of financial instability does not end in the bank account it affects the way learners perform at school A 2022 study by Prof Given
Mutinta at Nelson Mandela University found that 53 3% of students at universities in the Eastern Cape reported symptoms of mental distress, with financial pressure listed as one of the leading causes But these symptoms start long before university
Grade 12 learner Akhona Dingiso from Zinyosini explained:
“Whenever I write a test, I feel overwhelmed Not because I didn’t know my work, but because I continued to think “If I didn’t get a high score, I wouldn’t receive a scholarship That kind of pressure makes it hard to sleep, and to focus "
Another matric student, Lerato Noqaqa from Mthatha, explained how she sometimes had to skip school to take care of her mother’s baby, “my mother worked for hours, and there were days when no one took care of the baby Support Systems Are There, But Not Enough
While universities and a num-
ber of non -governmental organisations provide scholarships mental health services and study support the access to these resources is uneven Universities South Africa (USAf ) noted that more than 70% of students with mental health issues never receive professional help Reasons include limited access to affordable services lack of awareness and stigma
Sinelethu Mgoqi who matriculated in 2022 and is now studying at University of Fort Hare told us “I had no idea how hard university would be not just the work but also loneliness When I did not receive a meal allowance for two weeks I had to survive with bread and water I cried alone in the room because I didn’t want my mother to worry ” She added that while counselling services were available "You need airtime or transport to book appointments and sometimes I just couldn’t afford that " Peer Support and Sacrifice
In the absence of a reliable system students often turn their backs together Many learners say that their classmates become the main source of emotional support and even financial support
“I borrowed textbook from a friend who had an older brother at the university " said Methembe a learner from Matatiele "Some-
an adult that did this is successful but can t socialise and is not happy We understand that you gave birth to us that you are older than us but also this is my life and whatever happen it was my decision
times he prints past papers transferred to us We also take turns using one laptop because we cannot afford data ”
Learners such as Keletso talk about the culture of resilience and mutual aid that exists among young people in South Africa It is commendable but it also shows how learners are forced to fill gaps from guidelines
The Burden of Uncertainty
Even with the above points and enrolment letters in hand students are still worried about logistics Where will they live? How will they eat? Will their sponsors include everything? These questions are heavy
“My cousin got into UCT but did not go because she could not afford to transfer from Eastern Cape " Tukumbela
Simphiwe who hopes to study engineering "It makes me realise that it doesn’t just spend You need money connect and sometimes luck ”
Calls for Change
What can we do? Students groups say the reaction lies in wider system changes We need more funding but also more transparency ” Nomfundo said “Let students know what is happening to their applications Don’t leave us until the last
minute ”
Others call for priority for mental health “The government and schools should have psychologists available, especially for matriculants,” says Akhona said “We are human, not machines ” some also proposed community driven solutions such as mentorship programmes research space in local libraries and mobile health services
A Dream Deferred?
For too many South African matriculants the more intensive educational dream is not only the result of learning but also the existence of a system that often neglects them When they struggle against financial difficulties they also bring the weight of the expectations to become the first among the families they graduated break the generation poverty cycles and succeed against opportunities Despite the support of government and institutions it is usually not enough The voices of learners like Sinethemba Akhona and Lerato must be heard Their experience is no exception but part of the increasing crisis requires urgent and sustainable attention Until then many matriculants will continue to work hard not only for marks but also for the basic rights for a future
Lwambeso Mdyesha, Grade 6, Curro St Georges
Emma Jack, Grade 11, Collegiate Girl’s High School
SMME GUIDE
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How SA Youth Use ‘Ukuphanda’ to Make a Living
By Unathi Mkizwana, Nelson Mandela University student
At 6 am while many of her peers scroll TikTok or prepare for job interviews that may lead nowhere 22-year-old Andiswa Mbele is already packing fashion orders Her WhatsApp is pinging with customers from all over the country excited to receive pieces from “Slay Budget Boutique” a thrift store she runs from a small room in Mdantsane using nothing but data bundles and a cracked Android phone
“I had to make a plan ” she says folding a pair of jeans into a courier bag "No one was going to save me Not even the government "
With so many young people out of work in South Africa Andiswa and others are changing how work is understood They do not wait for opportunities; they build them themselves online on the street and in the spaces around us Sneaker cleaning hair braiding and graphic design on their phones are just a few of the ways youth are using digital tools to find work
Although the pandemic added to the problems our youth were struggling in a system that needed fixing Dr Zoleka Mlambo points out
“The economy is set up to exclude some people and the education sector is not matching the needs of today’s job market ”
Because traditional jobs are no longer available youth are discovering different ways to earn money They are not depending on others to open doors for them
“We refer to it as ukuphanda ” says Kabelo Motaung 24 who runs his business out of a carport in Katlehong You use what you know and try to make it profitable I found sneakers and TikTok to be my thing
Instagram TikTok and WhatsApp Business are now places where people buy and sell without rules Youth use their phones to support, advertise, deliver and develop entire businesses A few become content producers and others make money by selling thrift clothes or offering help with tutoring, beauty services or digital design
The informal and gig economy is expanding in South Africa not because it is cool but because it is vital for many people
Youth entrepreneurship is not something nice to think about It is essential ” Dr Mlambo believes However most of these hustles easily fall apart They should get the help they need to develop into lasting enterprises
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) SA Youth Mobi and the Youth Employment Service (YES) work to help young people by giving them money skills and work experience For a lot of people it is still difficult to use this technology “Even though online platforms are supposed to be free if you don’t have reliable data or a good device you’re out of luck ” explains Andiswa
According to Wits economist Sipho Zulu side hustles will not solve the economic problems we face They may be included in a larger answer when accompanied by inclusive school changes youth-friendly programs and real economic growth
The recommendations from experts and organisations are as follows:
Making data access on youth-related platforms free for everyone
Supporting the launch of mobile tech labs and community learning centers Offering tax relief or access to start-up centers to those who lead young businesses Providing students in high school with lessons on entrepreneurship and financial literacy Andiswa’s goal is to make her boutique a full clothing brand in the future Even now she is busy between thrifting packing orders and teaching other young people on Instagram Lives
She says, “I’m not only dealing with clothes ” I am demonstrating to girls in my area that they do not need to wait for someone to pick them You are free to decide what is best for you
A sustainably growing community needs good infrastructure and policies that include all members
*Article condensed due to length
Securing funding is one of the big gest challenges entrepreneurs face
Without the right amount of capital, scaling a business is virtually impossible
Many business owners turn to bank loans or government grants to support this next phase of growth
government grants can take months to process Furthermore, many growing businesses aren’t yet eligible for these grants, leaving them stuck without the funds they need when they need them Risk funding that is designed to meet the
are assessed on a case-by-case basis and according to a broader outlook on what
vision, relevant experience and track record, in favour of other factors like assets, many entrepreneurs strug gle to get their foot in the door
to assume greater risk when backing growing businesses Some of the company ’s most long-standing clients are business owners who experienced a temporary setback or downturn and simply needed enough investment support to recover
minimising expenses – but this doesn’t happen overnight In the early stages of streamline spending and cut unnecessar y costs usually become clearer
When it comes to property developments, many banks insist on presales
infrastructure – right from the outset, so developers can move forward without
Some of the world’s most successful businesses accelerated their growth because and provided the capital needed to scale For many entrepreneurs in South Africa,
credit histories and past performance to
explains:
“Scaling a business is about more than balance sheets – it ’s about seizing
providing the capital needed to unlock new levels of success ”
industry leaders, they invest not only in robust business models, but also in the
Considered one of the most prestigious awards in Nelson Mandela Bay, The Herald NMU Citizens of the Year Awards gives special recognition to ordinary individuals who create a positive impact within the community Let’s celebrate the everyday heroes who drive home compelling stories of hope If you know of anyone who exemplifies the true meaning of upliftment and positive change, let’s honour them. Click on the nomination link for more information. Nominations close at midday on 14 July 2025. Nominate here: www.bit.ly/HeraldCitizens2025
Date: Tuesday, 1 July 2025 | Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Programme Director: Dr Ongama Mtimka No TIME TOPIC SPEAKER
1 08:00 – 09:00 REGIST RATION & NETWORKING Attendees arrive register and network over tea/coff ee Interaction with exhibitors and networking
2 09:00 – 09:20 WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS BY T HE EXECUT IVE MAYOR
3 09:20 – 09:30 PURPOSE OF T HE DAY BY T HE MEMBER OF T HE MAYORAL COMMITTEE (MMC) RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMINC DEVELOPOMENT TOURISM & AGRICULTURE (EDTA)
COUNCILLOR BABALWA LOBISHE
The Executive Mayor warmly welcomes dignitaries various stakeholders & partners delegates and SMMEs The Executive Mayor shares insights on the local government support for SM MEs & entrepreneurs operating in the informal economy emphasising on t he role of local government in policy formulation and program development for the creation of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive The Executive Mayor outlines the sector contribution to economic growth job creation and skills development
COUNCILLOR BASSIE KAMANA
The MMC responsible f or Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture outlines the objectives of the summit provides a summary report on inputs received from SMMEs and entrepreneurs during the build-up program (workshops held across the City for SMMEs and entrepr eneurs) and unpacks the program for the day
4 09:30 – 09:50 MESSAGES OF SUPPORT THE INFORMAL TRADING ASSOCIATION
NAT IONAL AFRICAN FEDERAT ED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUST RY ( NAFCOC) AFRICAN FARMERS ASSOCIAT ION OF SOUTH AFRICA (AFASA ) IBHAYI SMALL BUSINESS CHAMBER
SOUT H AFRICAN YOUT H COUNCIL (SAYC) NAT IONAL YOUT H DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NYDA)
HONOURABLE MEC NONKQUBELA PET ERS
5 09:50 – 10:30 KEYNOT E ADDRESS BY T HE MEMBER OF T HE EXECUT IVE COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT AL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM OF T HE EAST ERN CAPE PROVINCE
Delivers the keynote speech on government priorities policies, program and initiatives developed for the overall SMMEs empowerment for SMMEs and entrepreneurs and for meaningful economic transformation
10:30 – 14:00 INT ERACT IVE PLENARY SESSIONS HOST ED BY MODERAT ORS INCLUSIVE OF QUEST IONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A)
SESSION 1: ACCESS TO MARKET S
MODERAT OR: T BC 6 10:30 – 11:30 ACCESS TO MARKET S AND SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT OPPORT UNITIES:
SESSION 2: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & COMPLIANCE
MODERAT OR: T BC
7 11:30 – 12:30 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND COMPLIANCE
12:30 – 13:00 LUNCH BREAK
SESSION 3: FUNDING SUPPORT / ACCESS TO FINANCE
MODERATOR: TBC
8 13:00 – 14:00 ACCESS TO FINANCE/ FUNDING OPPORT UNITIES:
AIRPORT S COMPANY SOUT H AFRICA ( ACSA) T RANSNET COEGA DEVELOPMENT CORPORAT ION (CDC)
SOUT H AFRICAN ROADS AGENCY (SANRAL)
NMBM SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
NELSON MANDELA BAY BUSINESS CHAMBER
SOUT H AFRICAN T OURISM
SOUT H AFRICAN INSURANCE ASSOCIAT ION (SAIA) & AUT OMOT IVE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (AIDC-EC)
CHC COLD ST ORAGE
SOVEREIGN FOODS REAL EST AT E DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/ SEDFA NAT IONAL CONST RUCTION INCUBATOR ( NCI) & PAN
AFRICAN INFORMATION COMMUNICAT ION T ECHNOLOGY (PAICTA)
NELSON MANDELA BAY UNIVERSIT Y (CENTER FOR ENT REPRENEURSHIP RAPID INCUBATOR)
NMBM- PUBLIC HEALTH & HUMAN SETTLEMENT
SOUT H AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICES (SARS)
ERN CAPE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ( ECDC) SMALL ENT ERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE AGENCY (SEDFA) NEDBANK NAT IONAL YOUT H DEVELOPMENT AGENCY ( NYDA )
FUND
FUND/ OLD MUT UAL FOUNDATION
AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (LRED) – DEPT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT , ENVIROMENTAL AFFAIRS AND T OURISM (DEDEAT )
9 14:00 – 14:20 SUMMARY REPORT OF RESOLUTIONS / PRESENT ATION OF THE TRACKER DR ONGAMA MT IMKA
10 14:20 – 14:30 CLOSING REMARKS AND VOT E OF T HANKS BY T HE SPEAKER OF COUNCIL COUNCILLOR EUGENE JOHNSON
11 14:30 AFT ERNOON T EA AND DEPART URE ALL