High-flying in Soweto marks Youth Day (gallery)

Organised by Kimberley Diamond Cup and 5FM, young people gathered to commemorate the youth of 1976. The skateboarding competition attracted competitors as young as 12, but the big guys came up tops. Durban’s Khule Ngubane walked away with R5 000 as the overall winner and also earned R200 for his skateboarding tricks: side-nose blunt and front-side overcrooks.

Cape Town’s Alan Adams came second, beating Soweto’s “Sketchy Masilo”. The youth also had the opportunity to interact with well-known personalities. A 5FM panel discussion hosted TV personality and Top Billing presenter Lorna Maseko, model and TV personality Maps Maponyane and hip-hop dancer and motivational speaker Oscar von Memerty.

They spoke about Youth Day, answered questions and shared some of the highs and lows they have experienced. Maseko said it was high time the youth stopped blaming the government for everything.

“As young people we complain about work opportunities. What is so important is to find what you are passionate about. Attach yourself to that, sometimes it’s those little things that grow you,” she said.

Maponyane told the youth to establish how best they could use their talent to their benefit. “If you really love what you do and you’re good at what you do, do it,” he said. Von Memerty advised not focusing on negative opinions.

“Focus on what opinion you have of yourself. At most times, people focus on what other people say,” he said.