Date Released: Thu, 14 March 2013 09:59 +0200

THE diagnostic report of the National Development Plan (NDP) has outlined the central challenges affecting all South Africans, directly or indirectly.

Some of these are: unemployment, the low standard of education for black students, spatial development that has excluded the disadvantaged, sustainability of resources, failing health systems, corruption, social division and poorly located infrastructure.

The State of the Nation Address recently delivered by President Jacob Zuma underscored the importance of the NDP's task. The NDP aims to unite all South Africans in formulating a common vision - eradicating poverty and inequality. The speech by the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, was an indication of the support and goodwill the NDP is receiving from government.

As the saying goes, "where your treasure is, there your heart will also be". However, in my opinion, the youth have been forgotten. This is unacceptable. The youth-based movements of the past changed the politics of South Africa and laid the basis of change. If the government were to ask me as a young man, I would welcome the NDP as a document that is inclusive with a progressive outlook of South Africa.

Nonetheless, I must quote the words of Benedict Mongalo, a young man, like myself, who said: "We will not eradicate our problems overnight.... This is like manually moving a mountain and the only way to do it is to move one rock aside and the next generation, or next government, will do the same until this mountain is moved."

Government has a lot of plans for the future, but young people's ideas are not visible and are sometimes disregarded in the processes of formulating policies. It is my hope, as a young man, to see more visible spaces and platforms being created where young people can engage at round tables with their leaders on various issues.

Why? Because we are the drivers and innovators of today and leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow. The country ought to see our role and function in a different light. It should not have to be a consultation process; young people need to be involved in the planning of their own future.

In supporting the NDP (vision 2030), the Student Representative Council (SRC) at Rhodes University has launched a Student Institutional Planning Commission. This will research and deliberate on socioeconomic, environmental, political and other issues that affect both South African and international students at local, provincial and national levels.

The planned commission will facilitate a dialogue for young people, about issues that affect them. As things stand, institutions of higher learning reflect the state of our nation and society. The ills and divides of society along race and class lines are all too visible and play themselves out on various campuses. No one can deny that these need to be attended too, resolved and a new future created.

The Student Institutional Planning Commission is a programme established by students for students in order to inculcate consciousness and thought leadership among the youth, for the purposes of developing our future leaders.

This is a small step by the SRC at Rhodes, to address pressing issues of national importance. We ask that our leaders meet us halfway so we can be a greater part of the 2030 NDP vision, and so we too can own it. — Sakh'usomeleze Badi is the Rhodes University 2013 SRC president

Source: Daily Dispatch