Aug-Sept 2014 K.indd

79

www.cosatu.org.za • AUG/SEPT 2014

to a wide range of mental health condition or behaviours which affects one’s thinking, mood and behaviour. These conditions include depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviours. Over 17 million South Africans suffer from mental health and of these, 75% of them will not receive any form of medical assistance. Youth who do get medical assistance run the risk of being emotionally and sexually assaulted by the very people who are meant to assist them. According to the Cape Mental Health Organisation, factors which can contribute negatively to one’s mental health include unemployment, poor living conditions, drug abuse, low morale, risky sexual behaviours, violence and inadequate access to health care. Our public health institutions are not adequately resourced to deal with mental illness among its people, especially for young children and adolescents. Only 1 % of psychiatric wards are dedicated to them coupled with months of waiting period for one to be admitted. Over 85% of psychologists are in private practice wherein they service only 14% of the population. It is therefore clear that for South African Youth to enjoy good state of mind, their socioeconomic issues have to be addressed. The Department of Health should therefore prioritise giving medical assistance to the youth of South Africa and also to increase the number of psychologists in public practice. Government should address youth socioeconomic issues for them to be able to enjoy good health. This includes providing a good schooling system, eradicating drug abuse and the reduction of youth unemployment. Papikie Mohlae is the new SAMWU National Media Of fi cer. E: Papikie@samwu.org.za T: 011 100 2615

to the fi nancial woes that the youth fi nd themselves in. Upon completion of their tertiary quali fi cations, even before getting employment, youth have a heavy fi nancial burden on their shoulders in the form of repayments of the loans. When looking for employment, one is told that they should possess certain years of experience hence some resort to taking up learnerships or internships in various government departments. South Africa would not be able to reduce poverty if government continues to give students learnerships or internships which do not add value to the quali fi cations which they are in possession of. We therefore call on government to radically transform the scheme into full bursaries in line with the Freedom Charter, and that graduates be given full employment (or a conducive environment for this to be created). The conversion of the scheme into full bursaries will relief newly graduates fi nancially and as such they focus on taking care of their families, noting that on average, a black worker supports 5 to 7 family members. The International Youth Day was celebrated in a month when South Africans are celebrating Women’s Month. The country has one of the highest incidences of women abuse, daily women are humiliated, harassed, murdered, physically and sexually assaulted by their partners. Young female adults are too subjected to these forms of abuse. The HIV/ AIDS pandemic has resulted in many child-headed homes. As a consequence of this, many young girls do not have the opportunity to complete their schooling because they have to take care of their siblings. There are approximately 96 000 child-headed households in South Africa. This year we celebrate International Youth Day which has been themed “Youth and Mental Health”. Mental illness refers

Census statistics, almost 60% of the country’s population is under the age of 34. Youth unemployment is currently at a staggering 36%, majority of those that are unemployed are in low paying jobs such as the controversial Intended Public Works Programme (EPWP). The EPWP will not assist the country in reduction of poverty among the youth, if anything, this programme has successfully ensured that youth are entangled in the perpetual circle of poverty. The programme further encourages exploitation of youth who are desperately seeking employment. There are instances of youth who are paid as little as R50 a day for the duration they are in the programme. By virtue of people being placed in this programme, one can make an inference that there is a need for people to be employed in those sectors. Their employment would assist in the reduction of valuable workers and also ensuring that the youth are employed on a fulltime basis, with job security. The notorious Employment Tax Incentive Act, commonly known as the Youth Wage Subsidy which was recently introduced will not address the issues of unemployment in the country. This will displace older workers across all sectors in private employment. Treasury has not indicated its capacity of enforcing laws that would ensure that older workers are not replaced by younger workers who will in turn be paid peanuts for the work they will be doing. Recently, media reports pointed out that the main bene fi ciaries of this act were labour brokers. We should view this Act as labour brokering of a special kind. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NASFAS) has been instrumental in ensuring that education is not limited to those that have fi nancial muscle to back them up. This scheme has however contributed

Commentary