Briefing Document

24th FrankTalk Radio Dialogue

Do Young Peoples Voices Matter?
Young Adults views on Marikana
Prepared By:
Zokwanda Rasmeni
Special Projects Officer
26/06/2015
Table of Contents

1 Details of Event
2 Order of Proceedings
2.1 Pre-show Proceedings
2.2 Show Format
2.3 Post-Show Proceedings
3 The FrankTalk Initiative
4 Talking Points
Introduction
Optional Talking Points:
5 Readings
8 Panelists & Moderators Biographies
8.1 Ms Taneem Essop
8.2 Mr Yershen Pillay
8.3 Ms Ayanda MVP
8.4 Ms Busisiwe Gumede
9 Implementing Agents
Steve Biko Foundation
YFM
Open Society Foundation for South Africa

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1 Details of Event

Panelists: Ms Tasneem Essop, Graduate Student at the Wits Department of Political Studies
Mr Yershen Pillay, Chairman of the National Youth Development Agency
Ms Ayanda MVP, Entertainment Personality at YFM

Moderator: Ms Busisiwe Gumede

Date: Tuesday 30th June, 2015

Venue: YFM studio, 4 Albury Road, Dunkeld Crescent,
South West Blocks, Dunkeld West, Ext 8, Sandton
Time: 19h30 for 20h00

2 Order of Proceedings

2.1 Transportation
The panelists and the moderator are urged to arrive at the YFM Studio at 19h00 for technical preparations such
as sound checks, etc.

2.2 Pre-show Proceedings

19h00: Panelists arrival at venue

19h00 20h00: Audience arrival
19h55: Doors close
20h00: Start of show

2.3 Show Format

The dialogue will take the form of a fishbowl discussion. Three participants will take seats with the moderator
on the stage. The moderator will introduce the topic and ask an introductory question which will lead the
participants into discussion of the topic while the audience listen in. The moderator will only interject with
questions to the panellists, each question is discussed in this way, making sure everyone on the panel has a
chance to speak. The moderator will stop the discussion and invite the audience to offer their thoughts and
comments on the discussion. Any member of the audience can join the discussion by asking questions or
commenting when the moderator opens the floor for audience participation. The moderator will also take calls
and SMSs from the audience at home as well as Facebook and Twitter comments which will be written down
and given to the moderator to read out from the social media desk.

2.4 Post-Show Proceedings

21h00 21h15: Q & A Open Session with Studio Audience

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21h15 22h00: Refreshments to be served

3 The FrankTalk Initiative

FrankTalk is based on the recognition that while South Africa has made significant strides in advancing socio-
economic development, the nation has fallen short of fulfilling a number of the promises enshrined in its
constitution.
The gross disparities that continue to exist in South Africa are evident in education, health and housing among
other areas. Compounding these developmental challenges are political contestations around the role of the
judiciary and freedom of the press; as well as deep concerns over social cohesion. In order to overcome these
challenges and for South Africa to achieve its full potential, the Steve Biko Foundation is of the view that the
active participation and engagement of all of the nations citizens is required.

While there are many disparate views on South Africas past and present, common ground for the majority of
the nations people is the Constitution. However, in order for the Constitution to be an effective tool in nation
building, South Africans from all walks of life must have a deeper understanding of their rights and
responsibilities.

FrankTalk aims to advance public education about the Bill of Rights by constructively engaging young
professionals ages 25-40 in national discourse. FrankTalk focuses on this generation because many do not have
histories of engagement with struggle organizations or current affiliations with socially relevant institutions, as
attested to through feedback obtained throughout past FrankTalk dialogues. Consistently, when canvassed
about the program, participants emphasized the importance of dialoguing around socially relevant issues and
the need for more interventions of this nature.

This multifaceted program tiled after the pseudonym under which Steve Biko wrote, engages young people in
discussion around salient issues impacting South Africas political, economic and social development.
FrankTalk consists of the following elements:

A periodic Journal featuring contributions by topical experts and lay people;

A dynamic internet platform that enables regular engagement with policy and current events as well as
interaction among participants;
A radio dialogue session that takes place before a live audience on a monthly basis.

4 Talking Points

Introduction

Tonights FrankTalk Dialogue, hosted by YFM in association with the Steve Biko Foundation, and is supported
by the Open Society Foundation of South Africa. The topic for this edition of the FrankTalk dialogues is Do
Young Peoples Voices Matter? Young Adults Shaping South Africa

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South Africas youth, defined as young people between the ages of 14 and 35, make up the largest proportion of
South Africas population at 42%. In addition to being the biggest population group, young people bear the
burden of the majority of the nations socio-economic challenges: unemployment, access to quality education
and inadequate health care, being some of the most pressing. Together, these challenges prevent many young
people from meaningful participation in the social, political and economic life of the nation.

The class of 1976 took to the streets in protest of language and education policies, and by extension, apartheid
as a whole. In honour of the 1976 generation, FrankTalk will interrogate the ways in which contemporary youth
are determining the social, economic and political future of South Africa.

Optional Talking Points:

Do young people understand their constitutional rights and responsibilities?

Are young people proactive in addressing their concerns?
Are the youth constructively engaged in discourse on South Africas socio-economic and
political landscape?
Does government respond adequately to young peoples needs?

5 Readings

1. National Youth Policy 2015 - 2020: We Dont Want a Hand Out, we Want A Hand Up!
http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/MediaLib/Downloads/Downloads/NYP%20Policy
%202020%20Report.pdf

2. Capacity Building and Training Programme in Mediation for South African Youth
http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=20006

3. Young South Africans Must Find Their Voices

http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/young-south-africans-must-find-their-voice-1.1872038#.VZJ0GPmqqko

4. Rhodes Must Fall Campaign Was A Wake Up Call

http://ewn.co.za/2015/04/09/Rhodes-Must-Fall-campaign-was-a-wakeup-call

5. Desperate Youth of South Africa

http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-06-18-analysis-desperate-youth-of-south-
africa/#.VZJ9kvmqqko

6. National Youth Policy Crime and Health Claims Fact Checked

http://mg.co.za/article/2015-06-16-national-youth-policy-crime-and-health-claims-fact-checked

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6 Panelists & Moderators Biographies

6.1 Ms Taneem Essop

Tasneem is currently registered for her Masters in the Department of Political Studies. Tasneem completed her
undergraduate degree in 2012 from Wits University, majoring in Political Studies and Philosophy, sub-majoring
in Archaeology. Her BA Honours degree was completed in the Political Studies Department in 2013, her
research was focused on the National Development Plan and Environmental Policy, it looked into the ways in
which civil society groupings and stakeholder engagement effected the outcomes of the final policy direction of
the NDP with specific regard to environmental policy.

Tasneems research interests include mainstream political organisations, social movements, critical race theory,
gender politics and resistance.

Whilst at Wits University, Tasneem has been an active member of the Wits community. Tasneem has been a
leading member of a number of organisations and was the Secretary-General of the Wits SRC in 2012/2013 as
well as sitting as a student representative to the university Senate and Forum. Tasneem is still involved in the
Wits Workers Solidarity Committee as well as the Palestinian solidarity movement.

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6.2 Mr Yershen Pillay

Yershen Pillay is a Social Sciences graduate from the University of Cape Town (UCT), majoring in Politics and
Economics. He has experience in the research and management of student affairs, having worked at UCT as a
student development practitioner.

Yershen held various leadership positions as a student leader at UCT including serving as Secretary General of
the Students' Representative Council (SRC) at UCT and a member of the University Senate Committee. In 2005,
he was the recipient of the UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellors Leadership Award. He is a former National
Executive Committee member of the South African Union of Students (SAUS).

He served as the Deputy Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency of South Africa
established by President Jacob Zuma in 2009 to facilitate matters of youth development in South Africa. He was
the Provincial Treasurer of the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) in the Western Cape and
was elected as the National Treasurer of the YCLSA in 2007.

Yershen currently serves as the National Chairperson of the Young Communist League of South Africa as of
2010. He was appointed by Deputy President Kgalema Mothlanthe to serve on the Human Resource
Development Council of South Africa in 2010. In 2013, President Jacob Zuma appointed Yershen to serve on the
Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Council of South Africa. Yershen also serves on the Board
of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) appointed by Minister Blade Nzimande and is also the
sitting President of the Pan African Youth Union (PYU).

He is currently serving in the National Education Council of South Africa chaired by Minister of Basic
Education, Angie Motshekgoa and he is the only previous board member to be re-nominated to serve on the
new board of the NYDA.

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6.3 Ms Ayanda MVP

Ayanda is one entertainment personality that is a force to be reckoned with. Born in KwaZulu Natal and bred in
the City of Gold, Ayanda blasted into the entertainment industry at the age of 15 as a TV presenter. She honed
her radio skills at Tuks FM while completing her BS degree in Psychology and Criminology at the University of
Pretoria. YFM got its hands on the talented Ayanda in 2013, and she rocked the YFM playground, providing the
best in entertainment. Ayanda now hosts the show Bona Fide every weekday from 10am until 12 pm on YFM.

6.4 Ms Busisiwe Gumede

Busisiwe Gumede is a senior anchor at Gautengs youngest radio station 99.2 YFM. She joined the station in
2012 as a newsreader for weekend shows and quickly climbed the ladder, carving out a space for herself in
current affairs.

Gumede has a column called The Youth Chat on the Sowetan, which explores on critical social issues with the
view of empowering young people to take action.

Prior to that, Busi served as a senior reporter at her community radio station, Alex FM where she learned the
basic principles of journalism, positioning her entry into regional radio. She spearheaded the stations elections
show, The Swing Vote, which sought to inform young people about the importance of actively participating in
politics to shape their future. The Swing Vote granted Busisiwe the opportunity to interview notable political
figures, including the ANCs Gwede Mantashe, EFF leader Julius Malema, the DAs Mmusi Maimane, Former
AgangSA leader Maphela Ramphele, just to mention a few.

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Gumede is also a proud ambassador of the South African Breweries #YouDecide campaign that aims to create
awareness about the dangers of underage drinking.

Busisiwe is a regular speaker at conferences and televised debates, including monthly debates by the Steve Biko
Foundation Frank Talk Dialogue that takes place before a live audience at the YFM Studios.

7 Implementing Agents

Steve Biko Foundation

The vision of SBFa non-profit, community development organization based in South Africais to be the
premier independent promoter of the values that Steve Biko lived and died for: restoring people to their true humanity.
This vision is pursued through programmatic activity at the grassroots, national and international levels that
promotes the intangible aspects of development: identity, culture and values, the issues that speak to the soul.

Integral to the work of the Foundation is Public Dialogue. This Series of activities contributes substantively to
the goals of SBF by:

Promoting leadership;

Stimulating critical debate;

Creating platforms for intergenerational dialogue

Bridging the gap between academia and civil society

Linking local issues with the Diaspora and the international community at large;

Generating content for publications and informing research.

YFM

YFM is South Africas premier youth radio station. Established in 1997, the station has always been at the
cutting edge of music and is considered an authoritative voice of youth. YFMs audience, mainly young people
between the ages of 16 and 34, is described as continuously seeking new ways to improve their lives and their
communities so that they are able to lead successful and rewarding lives. In its programming YFM seeks to
relate socially relevant information to its constituency in innovative ways.

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Open Society Foundation for South Africa
The Open Society Foundation (OSF) was founded by George Soros in April 1993 to promote the ideal of an
open society in South Africa; an ideal which includes democracy, a market economy, a strong civil society,
respect for minorities and tolerance for divergent opinions.

The foundation has been established in the conviction that the collapse of a closed, apartheid society will not
lead automatically to the emergence of an open society in South Africa. In its work the foundation encourages
new approaches and ideas that contribute to the creating of an open society in South Africa.

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