June 16 is a day which holds rich significance within South Africa. It is a day commemorates the youth of South Africa uniting against an unjust system.
On the morning of June 16, 1976, thousands of black students went on a protest rally. Starting at their respective schools and making their way to Orlando Stadium.
The students uniting as one. Their mission was simple. They were protesting against an official order which made Afrikaans compulsory in black township schools throughout the country.
The rally was meant to be a peaceful protest.
However, the protest spiralled out of control when the police were called in to disperse the crowds. Riots broke out and scores of students were killed in the process.
As South Africans commemorate the sacrifices the youth made for the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa looks at the importance of the country’s youth.
“The words of Frantz Fanon that ‘each generation must discover its mission’ come to mind every time I have an opportunity to speak with young South Africans. No matter where they live and no matter what they do, they each have a burning desire to change the world,” he wrote in his weekly letter to the country.
Ramaphosa explains that while the youth wants to improve their own lives, they also want to achieve a better society and world. “They see themselves as agents for fundamental transformation.”
Throughout history, young people have been a driving force for change. A factor which Ramaphosa points out.
“In just the last few decades, young people have waged numerous struggles against injustice, from the 1968 student uprising in Paris, to the anti-war movement in the United States in the 1960s, to the anti-colonial struggle in many African and Asian countries, to the fight against apartheid, to the Arab Spring.”
Most recently, Ramaphosa emphasises that young people have been at the forefront of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. A movement which has gained global support in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in the United States.
“Over the past week, activists around the world have also been demanding the removal of symbols that glorify the barbarity and violence of the slave trade and colonialism. At an Oxford University demonstration last week, a protestor carried a placard with the words ‘Rhodes must Fall’, the rallying cry of students in our own country five years ago.”
Ramaphosa elaborates that young people around the world have found a common cause.
“They are tearing down of statues and symbols of racism, demanding the decolonisation of educational curricula, and calling for institutions to address racism and social exclusion. And so, as we pay tribute to the generation of 1976 on this Youth Day, we also salute the youth of post-apartheid South Africa, the worthy inheritors of this noble legacy.”
Ramaphosa explains that while the mission of the 1976 generation was to dismantle bantu education; the mission of today’s youth is to take forward the project of national reconciliation and transformation.
“In time to come, it will be said that this year, 2020, marked the start of a new epoch in human history. Not only has coronavirus had a momentous impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, it has also shaken up the global social order.”
Ramaphosa explains the manner in which the pandemic has taken hold, has been a reminder of the interconnectedness of the human race. As well as the deep inequalities that exist between countries and within countries.
“The pandemic presents an opportunity to ‘reset’ a world that is characterised by crass materialism, selfishness and self-absorption not just on the part of individuals but whole societies.”
Ramaphosa explains that young people are telling us that the essential values of integrity, compassion and solidarity must be the hallmarks of the new society that will emerge. A new society which the youth is determined to be the champions of.
“In the discussions I have had with young people during this Youth Month, I have said that we should never underestimate the power of an idea, because ideas can and have changed the world. Ideas have spurred human progress and they are what will enable us to chart a new path in the post-coronavirus era.”
As young people turn their ideas into action, they have not let a lack of resources hinder them. They have carved a niche for themselves in various sectors, from high-tech to environmental sustainability.
Ramaphosa says through programmes such as the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative and the National Youth Service, the government wants to support the country’s young people. Assisting the youth to see their ideas materialise into reality.
“Youth unemployment is the greatest challenge we face, and the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated an already dire situation. Now more than ever, we will look to the innovative and pioneering spirit of our youth to come up with solutions to the unemployment crisis that benefit them, their communities and society.”
While Ramaphosa challenges the country’s youth to help improve the country, there is an issue which he feels needs to be addressed.
“Like all South Africans, I have been deeply disturbed by a surge over the last few days in the murder of young women at the hands of men. These are shocking acts of inhumanity that have no place in our society.”
Ramaphosa believes youth-led civic activism, awareness raising, and peer counselling are vital tools in efforts to eradicate gender-based violence from society.
“At the same time, we must strengthen our justice system, ensuring that perpetrators are brought to book, bail and parole conditions are tightened and that those sentenced to life spend the rest of their lives behind bars.”
While this needs society-wide action, Ramaphosa calls on young men to take up the struggle against gender-based violence.
“Unless we end the war that is being waged against South African women, the dream of a new society will remain elusive,” he emphasises.
Wishing the country an inspiring Youth Day, reminds the youth of 2020, that they more than meet the high standard set by their predecessors.
“They are optimistic, resilient and courageous, often in the face of the harshest of circumstances. They are a source of inspiration and hope. Through their actions, they are building a world that is more just, equal, sustainable and at peace,” he concludes.
The Newcastillian wishes its readers a wonderful Youth Day.
As we commemorate the role the youth play within our society, what does Youth Day mean to you? Share your thoughts and views with us in the comment section below.
