The National Department of Social Development, Ms Minister Lindiwe Zulu, says she is pleased to see young people making use of opportunities provided by the Department despite being faced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister Zulu stated during a virtual youth dialogue on Wednesday where she also urged other young people who receive Social Development services to know their districts, approach these centres and find out what opportunities are there for them.
Celebrated under the theme, "The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Growing youth employment for an inclusive and transformed society," the dialogue was organised to bring hope and show the resilience of young people even when the country and the world are faced with a pandemic.
Speaking to the youth in attendance, Zulu said "You are never too young to lead. I am excited because I feel the energy everywhere I go, and I want to see young people making use of opportunities around them."
"I am pleased to hear the testimonies shared by youth in different provinces, and happy that they spoke themselves on the opportunities they received from the Department of Social Development," she added.
Among the participants who shared their testimonies, was Gauteng DSD beneficiary, Gugulethu Ndaba  who started urban farming with the assistance of the Department.
She said, "I want to thank the Minister for engaging with us, citing education as a valuable tool and urging young people to take initiative."
Ndaba received funding to start farming tunnels and they are also selling tunnels to other emerging farmers.
"This urban farming will assist us in reducing dependency on social grants," said Ndaba.
This year marked the 45th anniversary of 16 June 1976, when young people protested against the imposition of Afrikaans by the apartheid regime as a medium of instruction.
Following the advent of democracy in 1994, the new democratic government declared 16 June as National Youth Day and June as Youth Month.
This declaration honoured the contribution of the youth in the struggle for the liberation of South Africa.