Puleng Taunyane
There are many problems facing our country today such as HIV/AIDS, crime, overpopulation, unemployment, shortage of houses, teenage pregnancy, the list is endless. The main problem which concerns us most is poverty. Poverty is a state of being poor due to unemployment. This results in an increase in the rate of crime.
A. THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT
The government should address this problem by forming partnerships with all other institutions because she is powerful. She must build centres with different departments whereby people who are skilled and talented can exercise their skills and put them to action. She must capitalize these centres and thereafter put people who specialize in different ways in order for them to keep the place running.
The government must make sure that the media, businesses, universities, science and technology organisations are involved in this project. They must be involved because each and every institution has its role to play in the development of our country.
The government must also make sure that schools are provided with computers as part of learning support material because South African parents have to pay for computer lessons in order for their children to be computer literate. Computer lessons are expensive and there are no jobs.
B. THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
The media must make sure that these centres have enough publicity because that is the way in which people can be made aware of such places. They can also make sure that they make the work done in these centres known in every respect so that science and technology or business institutions can be more involved.
The media should act in partnership with the government and approach the South African Broadcasting Corporation to stop playing disturbing programmes on television like Gaz`lam (portraying violence, foul language and nudity). The media should advocate educational programmes like Learning Channel by William Smith. Newspapers already have sections dedicated to education. This is a good thing but is not enough because only Grade 12 work is covered. The learning section should also include Grade 10 and 11 work. This will encourage learners to read newspapers. Radio stations should also host programmes with motivational speakers present to positively encourage learners that there is a way out of any negative situation.
C. THE ROLE OF BUSINESSES
Businesses can help by purchasing some of the goods manufactured in these centres because they need income. People who think the centres will not work, think again!
In Limpopo Province, in a village called Rotterdam, a group of women, mostly widows, grouped themselves and used beads to make traditional jewellery. This project is known as Titirheleni Women`s Project. It is run by a widow called Chief Mahuntzi. She came up with this project to address unemployment in her village and it succeeded. They sell their jewellery in shopping malls, to passers-by, trade shows,craft fairs and tourists. They make earings, bangles, pendants, lapel pins and necklaces.
These women are a very good example because they are using their skills to address unemployment in their province. It is working because a member of the US Peace Corps who once lived in their village, markets their products in USA. Although there isn`t enough money to pay themselves salaries, there is potential for the project to earn them more than R10 000 a month. (about 1 000 US dollars)
D. THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BASED ORGANISATIONS
Science and technology based organizations can help by first developing chatrooms for these centres on the internet, so that they can display their work which many people will have access to. Computers are important because they facilitate storage of and access to information. The internet is useful if you are job hunting or you do home shopping. With the internet you can access information for research purposes.
Computers can help people in the centres who are talented to an extent that they actually invent things. People can take them and help them modify their ideas. Thereafter they can computerize everything and see what they come up with. Children at school need to be taught how to handle computers as part of the curriculum.
Technology is important to our everyday life. It has taken over our lives and there is nothing we can do to stop it. It is said: “If you can`t beat them, join them.” So, the only way to adapt to this new way of life is to become computer literate.
E. THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES
Tertiary institutions also have a very important role to play. Tertiary education should also be made accessibble to the poorest of the poor since it is very expensive. People do not have the same financial strengths, that is why tertiary education seems to be accessible to those from affluent backgrounds. Brilliant youngsters who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, should be given access to education by both the government and universities. This will ensure that every year, more less fortunate children will have a chance to succeed in life. This will have positive spin-offs because other learners thinking of leaving school will stop and reconsider their options. If they go to school, the rate of crime will decrease because the only way to make money these days if you are a school drop-out is to steal.
I firmly believe that the only way to fight poverty is by being in partnership with the government. If people work hand-in-hand with the government, poverty and unemployment will no longer be issues to spend sleepless nights over. Crime will steadily decrease and South Africa will be a much safer place to live in.
