Tomorrow, 16 June is Youth Day, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising. It’s been 40 years since hundreds of young people took to the streets to stand up against a system that oppressed them. Although they knew they could lose their lives, they were fearless in their pursuit for change. And indeed many lives were lost.
It’s been 40 years since that fateful day, and it’s somewhat reassuring to see the determination of the class of ’76 in the youth of today. We have all heard the saying: freedom was not free, and these born frees have proven that they understand the cost of freedom. With the #FeesMustFall movement, young people have once again shown that they are not afraid to stand up for their rights. They have not only shown the same fighting spirit as the class of 1976, but have proven that they are not afraid to stand up against a system that oppresses them.
But, it’s not just the students who strive to make a change. There are thousands of young people across South Africa who in their own way are helping to build a better South Africa for all. And it is these young South Africans who should be celebrated this Youth Day.
We should celebrate the change agents in our communities; these are the young people who have taken their futures into their own hands by creating opportunities – not only for themselves – but for those around them.
So instead of wearing our school uniforms and attending meaningless parties in the name of commemorating the past, let us raise a glass to the present, and to the future, which looks a lot brighter thanks to the youth carrying on the legacy of 1976.
