The South African National Aids Council’s Civil Society Forum (SANAC CSF) is calling for a multi sectoral, multi-stakeholder, coordinated, and intersectional action by all role players in South Africa to holistically address challenges faced by young people in the country.
This follows the deaths of over 20 young people at Nyobeni Tavern in East London – Eastern Cape. According to CSF, the tragedy does not only affect the youth, but it is a manifestation of deep societal ills, that can only be addressed by all key players working together, from parents, communities and community guards, peers, civil society sectors and government.
CSF states that while young people were directly affected by this incident, it is parents, families, and communities who suffer the pain of loss under such absurd circumstances, and that it is time that society strikes a balance between rights of young people and the responsibilities of parents and the legislative framework, to ensure clarity on who is held responsible when such disasters occur.
Furthermore, CSF says, civil society must create space for parents to take responsibility within the context of such rights and the legislative framework of the country.
“There are many contributors to what has happened, most young boys are raised by single mothers who carry the burden of raising children and the question is where are the fathers? Also, to what extent do civil society sectors involve young people in psycho-social and mental health programmes at national, provincial, and local levels?”, asks Commissioner Sheila Mbele, member of the CSF Coordinating Committee also adding that it is important for young people to find other ways of celebrating besides consuming alcohol and drugs.
Meanwhile President of the South African Youth Council and CSF Youth Sector Leader, Oagile Louw applauds the Eastern Cape Liquor Board for a speedy response in revoking the operating license of the implicated outlet, while stating that the regulatory body, however, doesn’t have to wait for such tragic incidents to occur, in order to enforce the law.
“We send our sincere condolences to the bereaved families, and we are calling for the immediate enforcement of liquor laws across the country, with immediate closure of Liquor outlets in residential areas, near schools and all public buildings”, says Louw.
South African youth currently confront the linked challenges of poverty, unemployment, intergenerational economic inequalities and woundedness, gender-based violence and mental health.
Outcome 4 of South Africa’s National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB and STI’s 2017-2022 seeks to address such social and structural drivers through a multisectoral approach to decrease youth’s vulnerability to HIV and AIDS TB and STI’s.
We call for all role players to come on board and work together to take forward the mandate of the NSP as well as the actions outlined in the youth prevention strategy launched by SANAC on 30 June 2022 titled “Zikhala Kanjani? Total youth empowerment”, which calls for a multi sectoral effort to contribute to the reduction of substance use among youth and to facilitate access to relevant services for dependent users, through:
- A continued focus on promoting young people’s access to health and social services
- Strengthening the inclusion of youth in development initiatives – including employability and livelihoods programmes
- The addition of a strong mass communication, with health literacy and social and behaviour change goals and methods
CSF has set up a task team to develop a plan of action going forward, to facilitate implementation of a long-term programme with clear and timed outcomes, to address challenges faced by youth in South Africa.
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For all Media enquiries:
Contact: Nthateng Mhlambiso – CSF Communications Officer
Email: nthateng@sanaccsf.org.za Tel: 012 784 1000 Mobile: +27 72 7155 425