‘Celebrating Youth Month’ by Halalisani Shoba
"Since our government has been failing for the longest time, maybe it is time we free and develop ourselves," says Halalisani.
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It is that time of the year, when we celebrate youth in South Africa by recalling what happened in June 1976. I’ve heard enough about the youth of 1976, they played their role and paved the way and I believe our nation will forever be grateful. 46 years later, we have no voice, we have no fighting spirit and we are destructed. If we were to fight, do we even stand a chance against the brutal system in our midst? We are oppressed by our own, we are fighting a losing battle. We are in a state of crisis in South Africa and it doesn’t seem like we will overcome anytime soon, at least not with the current failing government. Some of our leaders are clueless.
46 years later, we still find joy in wearing school uniforms, in the name of commemorating June 16, how does that improve our lives? We celebrate youth month every year, yet we continue to see the numbers of unemployment escalating. Which youth are we celebrating in South Africa? Because clearly I’m not part of that youth, I don’t know about you? While our parliament is being occupied by ‘pensioners’, we are yet to achieve greatness and liberty as youth in this country.
Since our government has been failing for the longest time, maybe it is time we free and develop ourselves. I don’t believe that our government is failing to create enough job opportunities but they just gladly opted for system that will create monsters out of the youth. With their system they knew that we will be the victims of depression, and out of depression we become dysfunctional, miserable and powerless. It is so frustrating to be between the ages of 18 and 35 in South Africa.
As things stand, youth month has no significance in our lifetime. We need change, as much as change can be scary but change is a part of life. We seriously need a national program of action to take this country forward, as the clock is ticking very fast.
Change is inevitable but change won’t come dancing into our presence, hence we need to enforce it. I want to be there when we start experiencing a dynamic shift from the current brutal system, I want to be among those young minds who will replace the current ‘pensioners’ in parliament. I believe that, it is very much possible. It is now or never, but at the moment, there is nothing to celebrate.
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