Limpopo’s MEC for Health and Social Development, Mr Seaparo Sekoati, and the mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Cllr Caroline Mahasela, jointly urged the youth to seize available opportunities to carve their future in the mining industry.

They were addressing 80 previously disadvantaged youths from the Musina and Blouberg municipalities during the official opening of the Limpopo Youth Mining Indaba at Aventura Tshipise, outside Musina, on Sunday evening.

Sponsored by De Beers Venetia Mine, the three-day Indaba is the brainchild of the Limpopo Youth Commission, in partnership with the Blouberg and the Musina Municipality. Representing Sello Moloto, the Premier of Limpopo, MEC Sekoati said there was a dire need for transformation in the mining industry and young people must play a meaningful role in this regard. "Prior to the acquisition of democracy, the disadvantaged communities’ participation was limited to guarding, clerical and intensive physical labour. The managerial and engineering roles were allocated to a selected few and it is now the time for our youth to rise up and take part in mining activities. The country has vast mining resources but they were only meant for the benefit of a few community members."

He said mining was the key for the economic development of the country, both provincially and nationally. "The fact that you are here clearly indicates that you regard mining as one of the economic anchors that will bring light to your future. The government is doing its best to implement tangible programmes that benefit the youth to encourage them to maximize their participation in the mining industry. I have no doubt that the Indaba will change your lives and you will now see the mining industry from a different, benefiting angle."

The mayor of Musina Municipality, Caroline Mahasela, said the people of Limpopo should benefit from mining activities taking place in their areas. "Limpopo hosts various mining houses within each district municipality. While these mines provide employment opportunities for residents in general, not much information exists on the opportunities that young people can draw from these houses. The hosting of events of this nature will highlight intervention areas that, if addressed, may see young people benefiting enormously from the economic activities resulting from the presence of these mines and other mining opportunities that have been identified within the province."

She added: "Apart from information sharing, we strongly believe that the Indaba will identify and set targets to allow partners to address these areas holistically, and ultimately get commitment for implementation by each partner towards meeting the identified set targets. All of us have the mandate to ensure that ordinary young people, both males and females, have equitable access to economic opportunities that can be availed as a result of self-initiative on the part of the individuals, the private or the public sector. It is through events of this nature that we can easily win the war against poverty, underdevelopment and unemployment."

Limpopo Youth Commission chairperson Mr Rodgers Tshivhase said that the initiative is an economic empowerment "to our young people. We are not here to waste time but to build a sound relationship between young community members and mining houses."