President Jacob Zuma will today hand out awards to more than 100 hard working young people who have excelled in various fields as part of the President's Awards for Youth Empowerment programme.

The President, who is the Patron-in-Chief of the awards, will be joined by His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward and his wife Princess Sophia, the Countess of Wessex in handing out the Western Cape Gold Awards.Prince Edward is the Chairman of the International Council of the Awards.The awards are hosted in conjunction with the Office of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation.

The Awards promote social cohesion and community service amongst young people as well as excellence in sports and endurance games.

The Minister of Correctional Services, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Marius Fransman and the Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency, Mr Yershen Pillay will accompany the President.