The Vhembe District Municipality had their youth parliamentary sitting in Musina last Friday.

During the sitting, which was chaired by Cllr Rapson Rambuwani, young people from different areas of the four local municipalities of Vhembe said they had been side-lined from the economic mainstream. The youth said poverty and inequality were strong features of their political economy.

During the sitting, unemployment was identified as one of the biggest challenges leading to the youth's involvement in crime. They said economic freedom could be attained through the nationalization of some of the economic sectors.

“Young people need an education system that can instil class consciousness and gender equality. The government should establish co-operatives at local level. They cannot be economically empowered if they do not receive the necessary skills. Graduates without the necessary job experience should not be disadvantaged on the basis that they do not have job experience.  Access to education is still a challenge for disabled people, especially at institutions of higher learning,” it was argued.

In the previous sitting of the parliament, the youth recommended that the relevant departments should report quarterly on progress made with regard to the implementation of the resolutions made. They also recommended that youth units should be established in all municipalities.

It was also recommended that the government should establish co-operatives at local levels. Setas should support people with disabilities by providing them with necessary resources such as computers.