Name: Matome Seketa

Age: 24

Occupation: Unemployed

The only reason keeping me in this country is that I don't have money. I cannot afford to pay for the plane ticket or get a passport. Your government has already demonstrated in many ways that it does not cater for people like me; that is, people who either don't have political connections or experience in the working field. 

Mr President, I earned my BA in Communication at the University of Limpopo in 2017 and since then the only interview I had was with Media24 and they couldn't hire me. I am an older brother to two boys who are looking up to me. I used to tell them that education will help us get out of poverty, but since I hold a degree and have nothing to show for it, I do not know what to say to them anymore.

They will still be going to school without jerseys as the winter is approaching. I hope they are not discouraged and they keep working hard. I have even changed my tune now, I am no longer telling them that education will help us get out of poverty but my tune now is that education will help us get out of this country to a better one where one's degree will be just enough to put meat on the table. They smile when I say that. I hope they do not think that I am patronising them. 

Mr President, we know our country has plenty of natural resources. Why can't you have them processed/manufactured in the country so as to create jobs for us, the youth? Hold those implicated in corruption accountable, sir. Make South Africa a country of hope again – not only in rhetoric but through actions. We love this country very much but no one would feel a sense of belonging in a place where he is not being taken into account.

Matome Seketa