DURBAN - AS SOUTH Africa commemorated the 45th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto youth uprising, various events took place throughout the country celebrating the active role played by the fearless and resilient youth of 1976.
History reflected that young people were at the centre of every important movement that has shaped – and continues to shape – society and deepened the democratic experiment.
Paying homage to the youth in the country, the Daily News set out to capture the voices of young people who have reacted strongly against what they view as the continuing struggle faced by more than 70% of unemployed youth.
#FeesMustFall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile told the Daily News that young people “must take charge because liberation is never given, but taken”.
Khanyile said it was high time the African youth understood that no one would come to their rescue, and that only the youth would liberate themselves.
“Young people of our country have a responsibility of not allowing the commemoration of history by politicians to deflect them from present struggles.
“We are in Youth Month and, as usual, politicians salute and commemorate the youth of 1976, while under their watch young people are neglected.
“The very same government that salutes the youth of 1976 is the one denying the African youth an opportunity to participate in the mainstream economy,” said Khanyile.
Naledi Chirwa, one of the youngest members of Parliament, said: “Sadly, to be young in South Africa is to be within a space of nothing besides dying because of absolute poverty and absolute hopelessness.
“It is a sad reality that the very people sitting between the progress and success of young people in South Africa are the people in this very room who claim to have been at the forefront on the June 16, 1976, Soweto uprising.”
Chirwa called on the youth to rise to the occasion by “removing these political gorgons” from power by registering to vote.
Youth activist Kamvelihle Goba said June 16 was losing its significance as the youth had nothing to show.
He felt there was nothing to celebrate because young people were unemployed and the inequality gap was widening, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
“There is everything to be angry about. I don’t think we are angry enough because the fight against racism continues and we are stuck in the mentality that racism is an attitudinal issue, instead of recognising that racism is power.
“The absence of critical youth organisations is also a contributing factor against youth advocacy. So what can be done differently on this anniversary is to build organisations that are going to champion the aspirations of young people,” said Goba.
Artist Mbali Wonder Lotus from eManzimtoti said the youth of South Africa were suffering because there were no job opportunities.
“The youth who live in rural areas are the most affected. The government has a lot of work to do in uMbumbulu.”
Durban-based medical practitioner Dr Tshepang Mothlake, 25, believed it was critical that young people be included meaningfully in political processes to foster longer-term societal stability and peace to advance the socio-economic development of the nation.
“The quality of life and opportunities for young people are still defined, to a large extent, by the legacies of their parents. This also means that young South Africans are in no position to help drive economic growth.
“The country is missing its demographic dividend moment.”
“The perceived feeling of exclusion has often led to young people seeking alternative means of expressing their frustration and dissatisfaction with the government and other forms of authority. When frustration reaches unbearable proportions, often youth turn to civil disobedience expressed in the form of protests that sometimes turn into violence,” said Mothlake.
East Coast Radio personality Samkelo Cele, 27, said that issues affecting young people could not be addressed when the youth did not have a seat at the table.
“The issue that has been neglected for quite some time is a basic human right to shelter. The youth have now joined our parents in seeking shelter, but such human rights violations are not addressed despite the attention they deserve.
“I have stayed in Kenville, Sea Cow Lake, for 25 years in a community expecting shelter. The closest I have witnessed towards development was speed humps,” said Cele.
Daily News