Speaking at an Ubuntu Dialogue summit in Soweto this week, the Reverend Joe Chawane came down hard on the youth for being ignorant of their past.

"This is the 'I don't care' generation," he said.

But, Chawane said, Jewish people were successful because they were connected "to their history".

He presided over the first part of the forum, which focused on the relevance of the June 16 youth.

Chawane called on youngsters to adopt the principles of "community leadership and information gathering", which were employed by the youth of 1976 during the anti-apartheid struggle.

Chawane shared the platform with clinical psychologist Dr Ketso Moorosi, who spoke on "Youth Aspirations and Threats versus Parents' Expectations and Shocks".

The summit, which was organised by Popini Artistic Creations in collaboration with the Gauteng education department and Total South Africa, was aimed at encouraging dialogue between the youth and their parents.

"We need to reclaim our youth," said event organiser Mabutho Sithole.

He said parents today had to grapple with multiple negative forces such as drug abuse and rampant teenage pregnancies to keep the youth focused. Sithole added that forums should be conducted frequently to combat such problems.

"If we inculcate the spirit of engagement we will be able to understand the depth of young people's thinking," he said.

Sithole also pointed out that much support was needed from corporate South Africa to allow more forums to take place.

During the debate, some youths complained that parents were ignorant and did not pay sufficient attention to their challenges.

Parents raised concerns about lack of respect and the fact that young people spent too much time chatting on social networks such as Facebook and Mxit.

Sithole's parting words were the observation that: "Africans have begun to look down on their principles and philosophies."

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Sat May 18 13:32:29 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 13, 2012

Tsar-Rasputin

Thats why we are Christians, ne!!!
Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

ngutha

@Reverend Chawane

Jewish pastors(Rabbi's) do not buy expensive cars, homes and clothes with stolen church offering and tithe. I think you and the other pastors can learn from Jews also.



Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

Mrazane

Very true, we do need to enage with our young at a much deeper level and restore to them the ability to make informed decisions. Society is shunning religion and yet it is the backbone of a successful community, it teaches self respect, self discipline, respect for others, focus and living a purposeful life. Big up to the organisers and the churches out there who are reaching out to the youth in a meaningful way like Word Praise Christian Centre, Hope Restoration, Zoe, Grace Bible Church, Tyranus, Rhema there are many these are just a few who are really making a concerted effort.
Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

Pointman

There is no need to copy from others. There are basic principles which ensure success and community cohesion and this must be learned. Read Ngugi wa Thiongo, an Africa writer who identified the causes of our misery and showed how to overcome them.
Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

Mrazane

@ Ngutha - it is not all pastors who do that, in fact it is very few, most congregations provide these for their pastors. Those that are stealing the offering and tithe have God to contend with read 1 Samuel 2 about the sons of Eli who were stealing the offering and fornicating.

Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

MommaC

Don't we already spend far too much time chewing on cold soup?
Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

Decibels

Jews copied from Afrika why the hell should we copy from them Ashkenazi Jews.
Abraham taught that circumcision was the covenant beetwixt him and God yet on the temples of Kemet young African boys are shown being circumcised several centuries before Abraham was even born. Every temple in Egypt and Kush has an Ark at the back of the temple and on the walls, the same portable God-house carried in the battleground and in ceremonies yet we are told about the Ark of the Covenant. If you go to Mount Moriah you will not find Solomon's temple IT IS NOT THERE but when they show you the sketch it looks exactly like Ipet Isut - Karnak Temple.......GET OUTTA HERE CHITLLIN DRIBBLEJUICE PREACHER!!!
Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

todaysnews

i think Jewish people take pride in who they are and believe that they will be a success in whatever they embark on....they instill these values in their children and i heard that everynight or i think once a week when they have dinner with their children, they speak good things over their children, proclaim success and wisdom on their children........remember words have a very powerfull effect.

it's all about family, it starts with the parents, parents need to instill a sence of pride in their children....parents need to speak good things over their children, parents need to spend quality time with their children.



Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

Dzel

Not sure what you mean by “connected to their history” baba Chawane. From suffering under a looney Hitler they went on to oppress Palestinians and stole their land in various stages. Even today Palestinians live under a system no different from apartheid with retributive action that amounts to mass murder of the innocent.

Perhaps you don’t know that the state of Israel was created by the same UN resolution that created a separate and independent state of Palestine yet Palestine has never been declared a separate state largely because Israel.

I support a call by our government for all products produced in land falling within 1967 borders to be labelled accordingly so that those of us who are choose to can avoid buying products that keep Palestinian people under subjugation.

Report Abuse

Jul 13, 2012

Flemza

why so that they oppress the Palestinians , no ways the Soweto youth must learn from these people , look what is going on Palestian , just take five minute and watch AL-JAZEERA , you will believe , that things like are still being done to fellow human beings , what is happen in Syria is nothing zero to what is happening to Palestinian peole in the occupied territories
Report Abuse

Read all 93 comments