Zandile Sibanyoni
INTRODUCTION
The greatest problem we are faced with is poverty. It is so powerful that it actually contributes to the death of many people in this country. In order for us to fight this, we need support from the government and other different institutions available.
Poverty is a lack of food and money. What does this mean? It means some people who are unemployed must find other means to bring food at home. Some children are forced into prostitution. The crime rate becomes so high that some investors are afraid to invest in some areas. Diseases are spread easily and the body cannot fight some of these diseases without the help of nutrients needed by the body. Poverty is a disease on its own because it contributes to the death toll in South Africa. This disease can be cured. In fact, it can be prevented from happening.
THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT
The most unfortunate fact about poverty is that it mostly affects children. The government is giving out grants to families who cannot afford basic food like maize, tea, sugar and vegetables. I know it is not enough but it is the beginning. These families cannot rely on grants forever but they can use their minds and skills to pursue something they will benefit from in the near future. The government should therefore consider skills grants and vouchers to upgrade the skills profile of all South Africans. This will help people rely on themselves and become economically active and viable.
THE ROLE OF BUSINESSES
Most people suffering from this unbearable disease are people from rural areas. This occurs through unemployment which causes poverty because people do not have the cash to provide for their loved ones so that they can have food on the table. Business can help by playing a more positive role in society. They can, for example, start programmes to uplift the community such as bursary schemes, part time work for students, sponsorship of community social and sports activities, etc.
In rural areas there are many unemployed people. The few who are employed, go to work far from home and spend a significant portion of their earnings on traveling expenses. Business owners can establish enterprises in those areas so that people can find jobs near their homes.
THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
The media can play an important role by making other continents aware of South Africa`s scarcity of resources in eradicating poverty. The media can persuade foreign businesses to invest in the fight for a richer South Africa. By doing this, they will not only be empowering South Africa as a country, but they will also be empowering Africa as a continent since South Africa is the economic gateway to Africa. This will help people notice Africa for its hidden problems and give help.
THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BASED ORGANISATIONS
People get infected with HIV everyday because they want to fight hunger by prostituting themselves, thus getting themselves in danger of being infected with HIV. People who already have this virus are in the door of death because they do not have the right food to support their immune system. The science based organisations can produce less expensive medication that people can afford to buy and the government can afford to subsidise to the public clinics and hospitals so that people can be able to get it free and be able to go for their treatment regularly to these places. Scientists should aim to heal and save lives, not just to aim at making profits.
Teenagers rush into sex, forgetting the consequences and responsibilities of having sex at an early age, knowing quite well that condoms are not 100% reliable. There are those who do not want to even use protection. This leads to infections and teenage pregnancy. When a girl is pregnant, it means that a teenage boy is about to become a father. This means he will have to leave school to join the unemployment queue. This leaves South Africa with more uneducated teenagers and a lot of babies.
Technology institutes can help the community by bringing the latest technology to educational institutions which will help our youth to etablish their own useful institutions. This will go a long way towards ensuring that crime is reduced and the problem of juvenile deliquency is brought to an end. The government will then have less prisoners to feed and clothe.
THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES
Educational institutions should not only teach students about jobs but also give them useful information of what is going on in our country and elsewhere. This will help our young people acquire useful skills and contribute positively to their people and their country.
CONCLUSION
South African youth are grossly affected by poverty. Our beloved country is dying because the future is doomed if young people are not developed. Without the youth, there is no South Africa. If the top dogs in South Africa put the youth first, we would probably have a lesser rate of youths dying in South Africa. An investment in the youth is the first step towards eradicating poverty and creating a brilliant, brighter future.
