Today’s youth should know about 1976

This month is regarded as an important one in South Africa because we commemorate Youth Day on June 16.

This is the day when the youth of 1976 fought for better education and freedom.
Renowned South African photographer who took what became the iconic image of Hector Peterson in the Soweto Uprising, Mr Sam Nzima urged the youth of today to respect this month during an interview with Mpumalanga Mirror.

“June is very important for young people in our country. The youth fought for better education and freedom. As we commemorate the day, let us remember the blood that was shed in 1976,” he said.

This comes after this newspaper’s sister publication Mpumalanga News posted the following question on Facebook: Does Youth Day have value?

Nzima also indicated that the new generation did not have direction. “It’s very sad the way young people commemorate the day. They don’t know the importance of the blood that was shed in 1976. Some don’t even understand the history of the country. They don’t know nothing about apartheid, that is why some turn it into a celebration instead of commemorating the day. People lost their lives for freedom,” he explained.

He went on and alluded that the youth of 1976 had fought for better education, but the youth of today were burning down libraries. He said, “We know that people have rights in our country. Why are they destroying their future?” he asked.

We ask the youth: Why is commemorating youth day important to you? What do you think unites us as South Africans in 2014?

Watch the video.