Youth Parliament 2026

Session 1
Programme Directors
Hon. P Govender, MP - Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)
AND
Hon. CT Folick, MP - House Chairperson Committees, Oversight & Public Participation, National Assembly (NA)
Thematic focus: From a localised student protest against the imposition of Bantu education and Afrikaans, into a catalyst that contributed towards fracturing the apartheid regime governance construct

Time

Item

Presenter

08h00-10h00

Arrival and Registration

ALL

10h00-10h05

Moment of Silence
National Anthem
Opening and Welcome

Hon. P Govender, MP
Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces

10h05-10h10

Welcoming Remarks

Hon. WM Mosupyoe
Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature

10h10-10h25

High-level Opening Address

Hon. R Mtshweni-Tsipane, MP
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces

10h25-10h40

Message of Support
Theme: We planned it; we marched it: what happened on 16 June 1976 and why it matters.
Focus: How the march was organised; the role of students the response of the state, and lessons for the youth of today

Mr S Mazibuko
Youngest Member of the South African Students’ Organisation
Ms A Sithole
March Participant and sister of Hector Peterson

10h40-10h45

Historical Context
Short video: Images, footage and testimonies from June 16 1976

All

Session 2: Strategic Insight & Analysis
Sub-theme: Constitutional Imperative: Moving from theory to Practical Ideas

10h45-11h00

National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
Progress report on the implementation of its mandate and strategic interventions undertaken since 2025.

Dr SM Myende
Chairperson: NYDA

11h00-11h30

Discussion

All

Session 3

11h30-11h45

South African Youth Council (SAYC)
Reflecting on 30 years of the Constitution of South Africa by Civil Society

Mr ST Tsheme
President: SAYC

11h45-12h00

Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa
Youth Participation ahead of local government elections

Mr MS Moepya
Chairperson: IEC

Session 4

12h00-12h30

Discussions

All

12h30-13h30

LUNCH

All

Session 5

13h30-13h50

Youth Formation in the Student Sector
The State of Higher Education and Training in the current epoch: Emphasising access to education, NSFAS, Curriculum, Student Support and Student Accommodation

Mr SHM Nkaambako
President: SAUS

13h50-14h05

Youth Entrepreneur

Mr Xhaba
South African Youth Chamber of Commerce

14h05-14h20

LGBTQ+ Youth

RG Saal
Northen Cape Provincial Coordinator: Embrace Diversity Movement

14h20-14h35

Youth Disability Forum

Ms S Mhluzi
Disabled People South Africa

14h35-15h15

Discussion

All

Session 6

15h15-15h30

Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks

Hon. CT Frolick, MP
House Chairperson: Committees, Oversight & Public Participation

15h15-15h30

Vote of Thanks

Hon. P Govender, MP
Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP