From a young voice in Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge — seeking action, not applause.

Honourable Premier,

Today you stand before the people of Mpumalanga to deliver the State of the Province Address. As a young person from Acornhoek in Bushbuckridge, I listen with hope — but also with urgency.

We are a province rich in land, culture, wildlife and youthful energy. Yet in many of our rural communities, young people still wake up without opportunity. We do not lack potential. We lack structured access, implementation and follow-through.

This letter is not criticism for the sake of it. It is a call for focused, practical intervention — especially in tourism, agriculture and youth empowerment.

1. Tourism: From Passing Through to Benefiting Locals

Bushbuckridge sits at the doorstep of the iconic Kruger National Park. Millions of tourists pass through our province every year. Yet very few young people in Acornhoek, Mkhuhlu, or surrounding villages directly benefit from this tourism economy.

Premier, we need:

• A Rural Tourism Enterprise Fund

Create a provincial fund specifically for township and village tourism start-ups — tour guides, shuttle services, cultural experiences, homestays, digital travel content creators.

• Tourism Skills Incubation Hubs in Bushbuckridge

Instead of expecting rural youth to relocate to Mbombela for opportunities, bring accredited training closer to us:

Tour guiding certifications Hospitality management training Digital marketing for tourism businesses Film and photography training for destination storytelling

Bushbuckridge has cultural heritage — Mapulana traditions, Xitsonga dance, storytelling, music — yet we lack structured platforms to commercialise and preserve this heritage.

• Community-Owned Tourism Routes

Develop official provincial tourism routes that include:

Village cultural villages Local food markets Hiking trails Township storytelling tours

Let tourism not only showcase animals, but also showcase people.

2. Agriculture: From Subsistence to Sustainable Enterprise

Our land is fertile. Marula season, fresh produce, livestock — agriculture is already happening informally. But it remains survivalist rather than scalable.

Premier, agriculture must become a youth business sector, not a last resort.

• Youth Agri-Parks in Bushbuckridge

Create cooperative farming zones where young people access:

Shared irrigation systems Equipment banks Storage facilities Packaging and branding support

• Agro-Processing Facilities

Why are we still exporting raw produce out of the province?

Why is marula fruit not being processed locally into oils, beverages and packaged goods at scale?

We need small-scale agro-processing hubs to:

Add value before products leave our communities Create local manufacturing jobs Build rural brands

• Guaranteed Provincial Procurement

Government departments, schools and hospitals must prioritise buying from local youth farmers. This is implementation, not theory.

3. Youth Empowerment: From Speeches to Systems

We are tired of being invited to dialogues. We want structured participation in the economy.

• Provincial Youth Innovation Fund

Fund young people in:

Media and creative industries Digital startups Renewable energy projects Township tourism ventures

The application process must be simplified and accessible to rural youth — not hidden behind complicated portals and connections.

• Community Media & Digital Access

Many rural youth are content creators without data, equipment or studio space.

Create municipal media hubs where young people can:

Record podcasts Produce tourism content Learn broadcasting Develop marketing campaigns for local businesses

In an era where visibility equals economic opportunity, digital access is economic justice.

4. Infrastructure: The Foundation of Everything

Tourism cannot grow without:

Proper roads Street lighting Reliable water supply Functional public transport

Agriculture cannot thrive without:

Irrigation Storage Electricity stability

Youth businesses cannot survive without:

Internet connectivity Safe public spaces

Premier, budget allocation must reflect rural economic zones as growth zones — not just as social welfare zones.

5. Accountability & Implementation

We have heard many good SOPA speeches before. What we need now are:

Quarterly public progress updates Transparent reporting on youth funds Clear measurable targets for Bushbuckridge Community monitoring platforms

Let SOPA not be an event. Let it be a contract with the people.

A Personal Appeal

As a young adult advocating for other young people in Acornhoek, I speak for many who feel invisible in provincial planning. We do not want handouts. We want access. We want inclusion in budgets. We want to participate in growing Mpumalanga’s economy.

Our province is young. Our challenges are real. But so is our potential.

Honourable Premier, today when you speak in the Legislature, remember the rural youth listening from small radios, community stations and mobile phones.

Let this SOPA be remembered as the moment when rural youth were not just acknowledged — but empowered.

Respectfully,

A Young Voice from Acornhoek