Pretoria - “This is all I have on me,” said President Jacob Zuma, taking a wad of notes from his back pocket.
“Continue to do this and do not let your dreams die,” he advised Siyabonga Ndaba-Makhanya, who was down on his knees during the 39th commemoration of Youth Day on Tuesday at the Tshwane Events Centre, asking for help from the president.
The celebrations and the struggle for a better future for young people took a surprising turn for Ndaba-Makhanya when his plea for financial assistance was met with a favourable response from Zuma.
The 23-year-old earned himself a fistful of money (notes) after making his impassioned plea.
An initial count indicated he was rewarded with R2 000.
The president had passed near a stall that Ndaba-Makhanya had set up at the Tshwane Events Centre.
“I have tried to get through to you with the requests we have collected from young people across the country, but without success,” he told Zuma.
Ndaba-Makhanya said he was on a mission which had taken him and other young people from Cape Town and would end in Limpopo with a “peace box” containing messages from people encountered in the cities and towns they stopped at.
“I ask them three questions on their understanding of the socio-economic situation and their aspirations, and ask them to put the responses into the box.”
He also told the president and his entourage of a fund he and his colleagues had conceptualised, which would assist unemployed graduates.
The group call themselves the Real Phandas, and they set off on the 1 400km walk from Cape Town on April 27, Freedom Day.
They sleep out in the rough and stop at places along the way and, Ndaba-Makhanya said, they were prepared to suffer for the outcome of spreading knowledge and awareness.
A visibly impressed Zuma also instructed someone from his delegation to provide Ndaba-Makhanya with an e-mail address through which he could be reached.
With Zuma were, among others, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Gauteng Premier David Makhura, acting Minister for Arts and Culture Siyabonga Cwele and MMC Eulanda Mabusela, who represented the city’s executive mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa.
Zuma had just delivered his address to young people and others who had come to commemorate Youth Day. During his address, Zuma commended young South African achievers, some of whom were at the event.
The president said: “There is a good story to tell; there are young people who have done well in their respective fields and are an example of what South Africans are capable of.”
Among the achievers was the youngest medical doctor, Sandile Kubheka, who graduated at 20 years of age, and the youngest pilot, Marcelle Nienaber. She obtained her licence when she was 17.
“We also have here the youngest rocket scientist in the country and even possibly the continent, 25-year-old Siyabulela Xuza from Mthatha,” said Zuma.
He had obtained his degree from Harvard and said the Americans had been so impressed with his achievements that they had named a minor planet after him.
The youngest skydiver in the defence force, Corporal Dakalo Mavhungu, from Venda, and Sandile Ngcobo, the youngest scientist developer in the digital laser world from CSIR, were also there.
“These young achievers are proof that you can make a success of your life in South Africa,” Zuma said.
He called on the youth to play their role as patriots of the country, in promoting a strong and united country and who defended the interests of South Africa.
“Commitment, discipline and focus are what you need to achieve your goals,” he said, adding a set of goals the government had set for the youth of the country.
“We ask you to do a few small things which will make a huge difference,” Zuma said.
Counted among these are young people being their brother’s helper and keeper; showing respect to those older than themselves; promoting volunteerism; and, supporting the vulnerable of the country.
“We ask you to promote and defend democracy, and to participate in the political process – use the fruits of the hard-won democracy and vote,” he said.
Young people had to protect and respect public property and national symbols and work together to promote an African identity.
He said the opening up of borders across the continent was high on the agenda of the AU.
“This is a critical discussion through which we want to create easy passage for people and goods on the continent,” he said.
Said Ndaba-Makhanya: “We would have gone to the Union Buildings this week before leaving for Limpopo; but the Union Buildings came to us.”
The young men will be in Pretoria for another day before continuing on their journey.
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Pretoria News