We Are the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow

76 was not a very good year, not at all! Children died during what was supposed to be a peaceful protest for what they believed so intensely to be their right not to learn in a language they didn’t understand!

By: Letlhogonolo Ndhlovu

That 1976 June 16 march changed the social and political landscape of South Africa so much that for the past 38 years we’ve been recalling and respecting the memory of the Soweto Uprising. June 16 is a day for all people in South Africa because it is painstakingly woven in our history as our story.

ShowMe Pretoria spoke to different young people from Pretoria to find out what the significance of June 16 is today and what social issues the youth of 2014 are dealing with and this is what they had to say:

We started our conversation with three matriculants from one of the township schools in Pretoria that joined the 1976 June 16 uprising led by Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, Mamelodi High school.

Boitumelo,19

“I don’t think the youth of 1976 would be proud at all if they were to see how we celebrate Youth day. The past is not good; it is different now because we have opportunities.”

Nthabiseng, 17

“We need to be open to learning more as young people because the information is there, I play the guitar and the recorder and I realize that we need to work together with other countries to improve as a people.”

Karabo, 16

“History is important for remembrance, it is important for us to know what happened and we need to be proud of what our leaders fought for.

But we do have different social issues that we are dealing with compared to the class of 76 such as the high rate of teenage pregnancy in our schools, we need fresh ideas to fight these social issues.”

Then we moved on to Hoërskool Waterkloof, in the east of Pretoria and the students said:

Runette, 15

“I don’t really know much what the day is about but we could remember at least not to make the same mistakes, to focus on the future and to move on to new things.”

France’, 16

“It is a sad thing that took place on June 16 1976 and it has become just another holiday for people, people don’t really understand what the day is about.

For example we have a few classmates in our school that are black who speak Afrikaans and English and we don’t really know much about their cultures or history that is a part of them and that we should know. I feel we don’t pay much attention.”

Jurgeas, 16

“We must move forward from being reminded about bad things that happened, there are more problems today.

Homeless people, we should be reaching out to the poor communities, see how we can help.”

Other Pretoria residents commented:

Xiluva, 17 from Pretoria Technical High school

“On June 16 the youth chose to take a stand against the dictatorship of the type of people they were to be, they chose to preserve their cultures and expand their horizon in the South African society.

Although celebration is mandatory, it should not just end there. Celebration should rather be a way of the youth to find new ways of enjoying the freedom that is the result of 1976. There is still so much that needs to be done!”

Sharon, 19 from the Tshwane University of Pretoria

“Youth today feel the need to celebrate June 16 but we’ve forgotten the knowledge of what we are celebrating.

Let us focus on positive things, where we are going and to hopefully leave a mark for the next generation.”

Jules, 26 from DRC studying at the Tshwane University of Pretoria

” As a young person from DRC I feel that the youth of South Africa are taking opportunities mostly in education then in my own country.

The impact I want to leave as a young person is that of a leader and I have to work hard.”

Rikus

“Youth Day has no significance at all and on the other hand it is significant because I will have a day off. ”

Zola, 29

“June 16 is important so that we do not forget where we come from, if we don’t know chances are we will not know where we are going. As a young person in business my challenges are funding, advertising, opportunities are there unlike the past, we just have to make a plan!”

Samantha, 30

“Youth Day is important because our youth are going to be the next generation. We don’t have that many issues because we mix with different cultures, there are equal opportunities for all.”

Pule, 29

“I just have an issue with how we celebrate Youth Day which shows no significance for the youth of 1976.

We drink, we don’t take advantage of opportunities, we don’t appreciate and the kids of today do not know much about our history.”

Aden, 23

The youth today don’t appreciate life, Mandela is turning in his grave.”

PrayGod, 30

“The youth of 1976 were fighting for us, now we are not fighting for anything even with all the social issues we have, we just don’t have as much fight in us.”

Louis, born in 1976

“I was still young when the uprising happened but it is important to know and to be reminded so that we keep pushing for better in ourselves, for our country. ”

Abdullah, 19

“Young people aren’t informed about what happened and how much the people of that time sacrificed.

The problem we are dealing with as youth is education. Young children in other countries don’t have to pay to be equally educated and in South Africa we are busy changing street names.”

Letlhogonolo, 18

“I don’t think Youth Day is significant anymore, what was in the past should stay in the past and let us enjoy our freedom.”

Jodi, 18

“Its just another public holiday we are going to have.”

Mau,21

“Honestly I don’t really care, we are growing up, what we need to focus on is better education especially in schools because in Varsity we can teach ourselves.”

CJ, 24

“I just think we need to focus on less racial issues because we were not a part of that generation.”

Asmaa,19

“Its a day off!”

Muhammad,21

“It’s a day to recover after a long weekend of partying.”

Zane,18

“I was not raised to think about such so for me its just going to be an ordinary day.”

Laila,21

“The youth of today don’t know the significance of the day, history in schools don’t cover much about such events.

We have to celebrate the history behind it and it is important for the youth to note the power they have to make change happen in this country.”

Are we, the youth of democracy apolitical? If so, is that not okay to its own extent because as the inheritors of an unfair system we live the freedom bled for?

______________________________________________________________________________

More information on Solom Kalushi Mahlangu:

Fancy getting to know some of our local celebrities, sports & business personalities, and other interesting locals? Visit the ShowMe Pretoria Local Personalities Page.