Remarks by the Deputy President at the Entsika Foundation Empowerment and Excellency Fellowship

Programme Directors
Professor Zakhele Mkhize, Chairperson of the Entsika Foundation;
Minister of Basic Education, Ausi Matsie Motshekga;
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure South Africa, Mr Sihle Zikalala;
Deputy Minister of COGTA, Mr Parks Tau;
The youth of South Africa

I am aware that you have had an intense programme over the past few days focusing on critical topics under  the broad theme, Black Empowerment, Fighting Poverty and Economic Outlook, Innovations in Digital Technology, Leadership, Education, Health, Future of Work, Government Policies and their Impact on Black Empowerment. 

These are critical issues that are facing our country and I will ask Professor Mkhize and his team to give me the report of the dialogue so I can take it to government for implementation especially as we start the 7th Administration. 

I have just returned from Limpopo where I addressed the 48 anniversary commemoration of the 1976 Uprising.

Interestingly this year’s youth day celebrations coincide with the recognition of Fathers. Indeed Fathers play an important role in our society and as such we must celebrate them. Happy Fathers’ Day to all the fathers. We have agreed at home that we will celebrate Fathers’ Day tomorrow because of the Youth Day engagements. 

We have just returned from Cape Town where we voted for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and more importantly voted President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa to be the President of South Africa.

We have also witnessed a peaceful election in our country and as such the ANC as the governing party has accepted the outcomes of the  elections. This is an important sign of our maturing democracy.

We need to ensure that we continue on this path so that we build a strong and stable country wherein the economy grows inclusively and creates much needed opportunities for the youth.

One of the successes of any government is to partner with civil society and the private sector. We have decided to join Entsika Foundation because of its commitment to producing skills of the future which our country desperately needs. I am also here because I Chair the Human Resources Development Council responsible for skills revolution in our country. Its success is as a result of the partnerships we have created with the private sector as well as institutions of higher learning. 

We are right in the fourth industrial revolution and artificial intelligence as a key driver in our socio-economic development. As a result we are investing in teaching robotics at ECD level and also are investing in teaching artificial intelligence so as to become globally competitive.

Our education system as you can all appreciate is evolving, what we used to be taught before 1994 has substantially improved.

In this regard I would like to thank and congratulate Entsika Foundation for the excellent work you have been doing over the years. We are your partners. 

At the centre of our curriculum development is Ausi Matsie. 

When Professor Mkhize siad that I should join you today because among others you will be honouring Minister Motshekga I thought I will not miss the opportunity.

Ausi Angie congratulations, thank you for investing in the future of our country. I know you love education hence you have since in Gauteng, even at Wits University served our country by working in the education portfolio. To you the youth of our country, I assure you that the future is bright but you need to work with us as the government to ensure that we continue to build a country that is globally competitive.

Thank you for the opportunity to be with you.

Happy Fathers’ day and Happy Youth Day!