Orange Farm:Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike, has urged young people to regard setbacks as temporary interruptions rather than defining moments in their lives. This message was delivered during the launch of the 2026 Take 2 initiative held in Orange Farm.

According to South African Government News Agency, Letsike emphasized the importance of not allowing difficult circumstances to define young people's futures. Instead, they should have the chance to change direction, pursue their ambitions, and build better futures. She encouraged young people to feel empowered to seek healthcare without fear of judgment, ask questions, and explore new opportunities.

Letsike also addressed the need for society to not solely place the burden of overcoming adversity on young people, highlighting the structural challenges that limit their opportunities. She noted that it is too easy for society to demand resilience from youth without changing the conditions that necessitate such resilience.

The Deputy Minister called for health services that respect young people, education systems that provide continuous support, safer communities where girls can move freely, accessible economic opportunities, and public institutions capable of engaging with young people on their terms.

Letsike outlined that the broader goal of the Take 2 initiative is to help build a society where no young person is permanently disadvantaged by a single interruption or difficult circumstance. She urged for the expansion of realistic future opportunities for young people, challenging the notion of "option poverty."

She concluded by stating that the success of an equal society should be measured by whether young people have pathways back to progress when life disrupts their journey, not just by the initial opportunities they receive.