The former Free State Premier and current Speaker of the Provincial Legislature stressed the importance of youth participation and empowerment in the provincial legislature.
On Wednesday (26/6) Mxolisi Dukwana was officially announced as speaker in the Fourth Council Hall in Bloemfontein.
‘We are a province with a very young population’
His nomination by Premier MaQueen Mathae was not rejected, marking a major leadership change in the province. Along with him, Nolitha Ndungane was appointed deputy chairperson, Thabo Meeko, former Destea MEC and acting MEC for social development, became the new chairperson of the chairpersons, and former ANC provincial spokesperson Oupa Khoabane was appointed chief whip for the 7th board.
In an interview with OFM News, Dukwana stressed the importance of involving youth in legislative processes to cope with the rapidly changing and increasingly complex world.
“We are a province with a very young population,” Dukwana said. “Therefore, we need to look at how we can actively involve young people, not only in parties, but also in shaping the future.”
Dukwana’s vision includes the establishment of a youth parliament, a platform designed to ensure that young people can raise issues that directly affect them and engage with government. He said he believes this is a more effective approach than just having a committee that deals with youth issues as an afterthought.
He stressed the need for modern communication technologies to reach out to communities in the province and ensure that the voices of the youth are heard and action is taken.
Dukwana said he planned to meet with representatives from various political parties to understand their aspirations for the legislature and how they can contribute to its mission. He also plans to engage with management to understand their perspectives and align them with his vision for an inclusive and responsive legislature.
Dukwana’s appointment follows the resignation of Ntombizanele Sifuba, who stepped down shortly after his re-election as chairperson to take up the role of MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture for the Free State.
OFM
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