AMBASSADOR THEMBISILE MAJOLA ( DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY)
 MRS MARTHA BARTLETT, THE MEC FOR EDUCATION
 THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF FRANCES BAARD DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, COUNCILLOR B V XIMBA
 THE MAYOR OF SOL PLAATJE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, COUNCILLOR MANGALISO MATIKA
 THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF SOL PLAATJE UNIVERSITY, PROFESSOR YUNUS BALLIM
 THE CEO’S AND MANAGEMENT OF INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS
 ACADEMICS, EDUCATORS AND LEARNERS
 INVITED GUESTS 
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

Roar Young Lions Roar!!!!!!

Gazing across the audience it is very apparent that indeed there is an abundance of talent, leadership and vision assembled here for the conclusion of this programme. Allow me also to congratulate all the learners who have been selected to be part of this prestigious programme. 
I can, Deputy Minister, say with confidence that I am moved and optimistic when the young people in unison declare that “My future is bright”.
Ladies and gentlemen, any revolution is defined in terms of its character and its motive forces.  Therefore young people are an important motive force in the struggle for social transformation and economic freedom in your lifetime.  It is in this regard that we reaffirm your centrality as young people to bring about a better life for all the people of South Africa. 
The question remains though, what are the needs and demands of the youth today as a motive force to fulfil the quest for economic freedom and radical socio-economic transition?
Young people are among the world’s greatest assets. They bring energy, talent and creativity to economies and create the foundations for future development. But today’s youth also represent a group with serious vulnerabilities. In recent years slowing global employment growth and increasing unemployment, underemployment and disillusionment have hit young people the hardest. As a result, today’s youth are faced with a growing deficit of decent work opportunities and high levels of economic and social uncertainty.
In my interaction with both educators and learners I can now confidently assert that we can enter into a joyous and celebratory mood knowing that over the past week we not only gained deep knowledge of the energy sector, but we also got to get to know each other both in a professional and personal capacity.  I trust, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the friendships we have forged will contribute immensely to both our personal development and will contribute significantly to the economic growth of the provinces we hail from and the country at large.
Ladies and gentlemen, these learners have indeed done our respective provinces and country proud and a hearty round of applause will perfectly be in order.
Honourable Deputy Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, from a factual perspective, we are in the process of building an education system that will meet the needs of our country.  To this end, government cannot do it solely on its own. 
We therefore need all sectors of South African society to join hands to make education a societal issue. 

When the programme concluded today is assessed in terms of the successes thereof, we must be able to reflect on the number of young people empowered as a result of the programme.  We must be able to reflect on the number of young people who are involved in social change movements to ensure that young people live a life free of substance abuse, unwanted teenage pregnancies, criminality and transactional sex.
The Youth of seventy six should always be an inspiration and a reference to the young people of today. I mention the youth of 1976 because we ought to learn from the past.  Ivan van Sertima puts it beautifully in his book Child of Africa when he says “History is a critical complement to contemporary reality. . . . It should charge us not only with a surge of new pride but the electric energy of creative action. For it to animate us thus, it will demand, it will most certainly demand, a corresponding animation of consciousness. . . . The vision of our former stature in the world must penetrate our consciousness so deeply that it begins to transform the degrading and dwarf-like habits of our present thought and action, habits which have crippled our progress. This heightened awareness of the best in our past can stimulate and inspire and heal us but it must blend intelligently with a maturing vision of the living present if it is to be of practical value.”
Having said that I wish to remind the young lions and lionesses gathered here that their future is indeed bright- but they have to take responsibility thereof. This programme provides the ideal foundation and guidance to become what you are destined to be. Grab the opportunities on offer and I can assure you that bright future is within your reach.
I therefore encourage you to excel in your studies.  I am not here to preach to you the value of education, but the majority of you know the difficulties and the hardships your families have encountered to put you through school.  In improving your circumstances, you have found comfort in your books and in a few years’ time, I am confident that you will be leaders of society in so many different ways:
 - As IT specialists
 - Scientists
 - Medical Doctors
 - Researchers
 - Engineers
On behalf of the Executive Council of the Northern Cape, and all its people, I extend to each and every learner all the best in your studies and examinations, confident in the knowledge that tomorrow will be much better than today.
On this note, I conclude by thanking you for being part of the 2017 Learners Focus Week and I am sure that your teachers and transport personnel will deliver you home safely.
Allow, me then, Ladies and Gentlemen, to introduce to you a formidable young lady who is responsible for delivering the keynote address. 
Ms Thembisile Majola currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of South Africa since 26 May 2014. She was born in Soweto, Johannesburg. She received her basic education from Botswana, Zambia and Cuba, where she also received her Junior Degree in Civil Engineering in Camaguey. She also holds a Masters Degree in the same field. She worked as a Project & Site Engineer at Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO), Mazimbu, Tanzania from 1986-1987, whereafter she received Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Training, Caculama, Angola from 1987-1988.
She was the Executive Secretary Women and Development Programme, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland from 1993-97 and then became the Chief Director International Relations and Trade, Office of the Deputy President from 1997-2001. She was 2006-2008 Ambassador Extraordinaire et Plenipotentiare to Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Gambia & Guinea Bissau. In 2009 she became the Deputy Coordinator - Core Business, National Intelligence Coordinating Committee;in 2010 she was a Consultant in the Office of the Premier, Gauteng. From 2010-2013 she was the Market Development Manager for Africa, Aurecon.From 2013 to early May 2014 she was the Director, Thenoma Consulting, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. She currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of South Africa since 26 May 2014
Her political activities include:1987- ANC Women’s Section Conference, Luanda, Angola (Angolan region delegate): 1987-89 – Secretary, ANC Women’s Section, Angola: 1989-90 – MALIBONGWE Conference Committee: 1990-91- ANC Women’s Task Force, Johannesburg, RSA. Source: energy.gov.za

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Deputy Minister of Energy- Ms Thembisile Majola