​Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has called on all young people to have their voices heard and engage government on issues affecting them.    
Addressing this year's Youth Day celebrations in Orlando at the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Premier Makhura appealed to the youth calling upon them to engage with government and voice their concerns about what they want.
"I want to assure you that when you speak, we will listen," said Makhura
The daylong celebrations started with a four-kilometre walk from the Morris Issacson High school in Soweto to the Hector Pieterson Memorial for wreath-laying ceremony.
Makhuru told the young people that his government was willing to address their concerns to make Gauteng work better.
Following this he along with other dignitaries and the Pieterson family, laid a wreath at the Hector Memorial Site.
He then proceeded to the Nasrec Expo Centre where the province was hosting a youth expo.
Speaking at the Nasrec Expo Centre, Premier Makhura said: "We hope to take Tshepo 1 Million (youth employment flagship programme) to the next level including taking youth coordinators to the municipalities and the wards.
"We also want to double Tshepo 1 Million, as we have millions of young people who are out of school and are jobless.  Gauteng Youth Expo is going to be a place of opportunities," said Makhura. 
He further commended the expo as innovation that allowed government to not to commemorate Youth Day at a stadium with a rally but instead have a session where young people can be informed of opportunities available in government and private sector.  He noted that they could also visit exhibitors to get information on accessing bursaries and job opportunities. 
"As Gauteng government, we believe that young people need jobs and opportunities not handouts," he added. 
MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe said there was a lot of untapped talent in the townships.
"My department, will be embark on roadshows to teach and inform young people on how to get hold of opportunities offered by government, there are a lot of youth that must be given opportunities to shine," said Hlophe.