Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe urged the youth on Wednesday to study hard, become more involved in their communities and make use of the opportunities available to them.

"As the old adage goes, 'in any economically depressed situation the only form of recreation available is alcohol and sex'. This is why it is no surprise that the rate of infections in HIV, Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases are higher among the youth."

"In truth most of the social ills perpetuated by the youth are direct manifestations of the fact that youth lack extra-mural and recreational facilities," Motlanthe said at an event celebrating youth month in East London.

Motlanthe said government had made tertiary education more accessible for the youth and bursaries were available for deserving students.

"Unlike the 1976 generation, you are spoiled for choice and free to pursue knowledge to your heart's content. From our part as government we will do all we can to ensure that no deserving student who wants to study is excluded from education on the basis of lack of finance," he said.