AND ACHIEVERS GALA DINNER
OF THE RURAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION – SOUTH AFRICA
MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM
PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI MP
PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
AND TRADITIONAL PRIME MINISTER TO THE ZULU MONARCH AND NATION
DELIVERED ON HIS BEHALF BY
THE HON. MR MTHOKOZISI NXUMALO MP
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON OF THE IFP YOUTH BRIGADE
Durban International Convention Centre: 7 September 2019
I am delighted to support the 9th Annual KwaZulu Natal Young Achievers Awards.
I regret that I am not able to be with you tonight to celebrate our remarkable young South Africans. But I have asked the Hon. Mr Mthokozisi Nxumalo to bring you my message of support, because Mr Nxumalo has recently been elected as the National Chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade. He is also a Member of Parliament.
Mr Nxumalo is therefore well positioned to highlight your success stories at a national level, reminding South Africa that we have innovative, talented young patriots – and they are making a difference here, in KwaZulu Natal. This province is the seedbed of youth empowerment, because young people here are making their future.
I will keep this message short, as I want Mr Nxumalo to speak to you from his own heart. He is passionate and full of ideas, and I know that he will make an impact for the youth of our nation.
I simply wish to thank Mr Mthobisi Mkhize, Executive Director of the Rural Youth Development Foundation – South Africa, for bringing us together again to celebrate young entrepreneurs and individuals who are serving and inspiring their communities.
The youth who are being recognised tonight have been nominated by NGOs, municipalities and youth organisations, as well as by their own communities. They are being honoured for going the extra mile to make a difference and to change lives.
It gives me great pleasure to know that the Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi Supreme Innovative Leadership Award will again be presented tonight. I am honoured that this award, that carries my name, will be given to an outstanding young South African.
The Rural Youth Development Foundation operates on the principle “do it because you can”. This principle resonates with the IFP’s values. The IFP believes in selfless service, not asking what we can get out of it; but what we can contribute. We believe in servant leadership.
I placed this value at the foundation of the IFP in 1975, because I believe in putting my country first. In this, I know that I share a value with tonight’s Young Achievers. I want to thank you, not only for your service to our nation, but for putting rural successes on the map.
We need to talk more about these success stories, so that people will see the rich treasure that exists in our rural communities. Great good is being done in KwaZulu Natal, not in the boardrooms and the cities, but in the homes and communities of rural people.
That makes me proud.
I therefore congratulate all of you on this achievement, but particularly the winner of the Supreme Innovative Leadership Award.
Well done!
