Opening Remarks for the P20 Youth Parliament Hon Mr P Govender, MP Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly
Honourable Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in Absentia
Honourable Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces in Absentia
Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces
House Chairpersons 
Honourable Ministers
Speakers of legislatures
Honourable Delegates of the NCOP
Invited guests 
And 
Support staff

Good morning, future leaders, trailblazers, and changemakers of South Africa and Africa. I would like to formally welcome you to the inaugural P20 Youth Parliament — a historic moment where your voice, your energy, and your ideas take centre stage. Today, under the bold theme “Youth Economic Participation, Employment and Opportunities – Developing a Medium-Term Youth Development Agenda for South Africa’s Youth,” we are not just talking policy — we are making it personal, practical, and impactful.
We have spent considerable time to design the programme in a way that it becomes your platform. We believe that nothing can be done about youth matters without youth involvement. The constitution drafted by your fathers, mothers and even grandparents have guaranteed that in anything we do nobody should be left behind and in this vain no youth must be left behind.

As we gather in the heart of South Africa’s legislative drafting and oversight body - Parliament, we are sending a clear message to the nation and the world: Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow — you are leaders today and you will lead the process towards achieving the change that South Africa needs. I want to reiterate that the decisions made in this room can shape strategies, budgets, reforms, and opportunities that will define the next decade. The future now lays before you to shape.
I would like to take the same approach like I did for our Africa day lecture, I put forth a challenge to you:

1. To Be bold in your ideas.
2. Be fearless in your participation.
3. Be united in your commitment to a more inclusive, innovative, and youth-driven future.

You are here because your voice matters. Let’s challenge assumptions. Let’s propose real, practical solutions. And above all, let’s do this together with purpose, passion, pride and patriotism.

Lets get South Africa to work!