Pretoria � The youth are encouraged to participate in Youth Day activities and to make use of all the support and resources that government has made available to improve their prospects and advance their participation in the economy.

Speaking during a post Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo encouraged youth to be hands-on.

She said during the month, Ministers and Deputy Ministers will engage in various activities aimed at promoting youth development and empowerment.

The National Youth Day commemoration event will take place in Ventersdorp, North West, on 16 June 2017.

This year marks the 41st anniversary of the Soweto Uprising and the commemoration serves as a reminder that young people in the country were at the forefront of the struggle.

President Jacob Zuma last week launched Youth Month under the theme, The Year of OR Tambo: Advancing Youth Economic Empowerment, with a meeting of the Presidential Youth Working Group.

This brought together government and leaders of youth organizations, who took stock of progress in the socio-economic advancement of young people, the Minister said.

Local Government Youth Development Forum

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen will convene the Local Government Conference from 19 to 22 June 2017, under the theme, Young people taking charge in development.

Minister Dlodlo said the conference will launch the Local Government Youth Development Forum.

This will enable young people to review the progress of local government against the achievement of the National Youth Policy 2020. It will also strengthen partnerships between government, business and civil society in developing young leaders in the local space.

Africa Public Service Day

Meanwhile, Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi will lead a South African delegation to attend the Africa Public Service Day (APSD) in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 June.

The event, which will conclude on 23 June, will be held under the theme, Entrenching a Citizen-Centred Service Delivery Culture: Partnering with the Youth for Africa’s Transformation.

The theme offers opportunities to scrutinize on how the public service define and respond to a citizen-centred service delivery culture that is defined by the way things are currently done, said Minister Dlodlo.

Source: South African Government News Agency