Speaker of Council in the City of Johannesburg Cllr Colleen Makhubele recently addressed students on the significance of civic education and the responsibilities that come with being a responsible citizen at Gauteng CET College in City Deep. Cllr Makhubele urged open and constructive dialogue that promotes understanding and peaceful coexistence. She highlighted the importance of embracing cultural diversity, respecting differences, and finding common ground. She also stressed for discussions on these topics to persist withing the classroom and throughout the broader community.
The Speaker told the students that currently the Metro Council offices were dysfunctional because of a lack of maintenance.
Transformers have burnt down, bathrooms do not work, among other things.
Cllr Makhubele urged the students to take pride in the city’s infrastructure and public spaces.
This includes not littering and reporting issues of vandalism.
“There are beautiful roads in Orange Farm, but we don’t have the right people to maintain them. The City of Joburg inherited beautiful infrastructure from the past government and the political leadership failed to build it as world-class African city.
“Johannesburg has investors that want to build factories to provide jobs, but they are afraid of you, South Africans, because you relieve yourselves anywhere, drop empty food packets on the ground,” Cllr Makhubele lamented.
Students were encouraged to understand the impact of their actions on the economy and job opportunities by conducting themselves responsibly as that could assist in attracting increased investment in their communities.
“When South Africans are angry, they burn their shops. When they get frustrated, they loot those shops and factories. Investors prefer to invest in Sandton because people there conduct themselves differently and responsibly.
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, a not-for-profit social enterprise that works with partners to find solutions for the challenge of youth unemployment, provided vital information for the youth to apply for job opportunities and enhance their career paths.
The Independent Electoral Commission was also present to encourage the youth to register to vote for the 2024 national elections.
Its representatives emphasised the important of voting and said students’ views can shape the future of the country.
Written by Thembelihle Radebe
18/10/2023
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