Why we celebrate Youth Day
JOBURG - Freedom Day is celebrated every year in South Africa to remind us of our past as a country to see how far we've come since then and, most importantly, to commemorate what took place during the Soweto Uprising on 16 June.
It was the morning of 16 June 1976 when a number of students from Soweto schools took to the streets to take part in protests against the introduction of the Afrikaans medium of instruction being introduced in schools.
It has been estimated that more than 20 000 students took part in the protest, with 176 reported to have died with estimates of up to 700 fatalities. South Africa celebrates Youth Day on 16 June every year as a way of reminding the country of the events that took place on that tragic day.
Who can forget the famous picture of Hector Pieterson being carried by another student after being shot by a South African policeman?
With #YouthDay trending on Twitter, take a look at what the Twitter-verse has to say about this important day in South African history:
I like this ish! the courage to not distort J16 aka #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/b1XG4WLIHC
— karabo(🎵, 📝); (@altntvz) June 15, 2015
I know u weren't there but somehow u were also affected, so say something abt this heartbreaking picture. #YouthDay pic.twitter.com/UO84OpSL1X
— Sonndi🇿🇦 (@Sonndi_M) June 15, 2015
With the right education comes right thinking and right actions thereafter. Demand an education first dear #africanchildday #youthday
— Bongani Dube (@djtizalami) June 15, 2015
There is nothing wrong with South Africa that cannot be cured by what is right with South Africa! #YouthDay
— Evita Bezuidenhout (@TannieEvita) June 14, 2015
Various organisations around South Africa are encouraging the nation to take part in a productive activity on Youth Day and celebrate the heritage of our nation.
