When we speak of June 16, one thing that usually comes to mind, effortlessly is Hector Pieterson. Even though student uprisings and the tragic deaths of countless school learners throughout Orlando and other parts of Soweto are the focal points of this day;
Hector Pieterson is the main symbol of June 16 due to the fact that most young people nowadays know that there’s a boy who died in 1976 named Hector Pieterson and most of them—albeit taught at schools about South African history which predominantly highlights the June 16, don’t necessary know what actually transpired that day and how poignant and sacred this day ought to be commemorated.
I spent a great amount of time with the youth of Orlando, reflecting on the significance of June 16 and most of them affirmed that the day still holds significance and needs to be commemorated with respect and dignity through blatant intentions of paying homage to those innocent young people who died fighting for a decolonised and fair education system that most of us are enjoying today.
However, there were some young people who felt like the day has lost its significance and dignity. One young lady in particular, Vuyokazi Mdlungu who is a student at the University of Johannesburg feels like some of the youth of 76 actually betrayed June 16 uprisings by subjecting their children to the very same thing their peers were fighting for—which was the abolishment of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.
She says with the current peak of racism that South Africa is facing, and has been facing for a very long time; some of these black kids who are taken to Afrikaans schools is just a contradiction of what happened in 1976 and as a result, why was Afrikaans as a medium of learning abolished then if black parents still favour it so much to subject their children to it after what had happened?
Mdlungu also feels like the youth does not respect the commemoration of June 16 due to the abuse of alcohol rather than acquiring productivity and honouring the poignant struggle that somehow yielded good results. She says “I think today’s youth has lost essence of this day as many of them see it as one of those big days where they can indulge or intoxicate themselves.” Mdlungu made a comparison between this day and that of reconciliation celebrated every 16th of December.
[also read] – #Revisit1976SowetoUprising – The pitfall of the South African education system
“Reconciliation day is comprehensible as to why many people intoxicate because the day is quite self-explanatory, the country was reconciling which calls for a celebration. I feel like June 16 should be honoured with respect and dignity, not all these absurd celebrations, how do you celebrate pain? Especially the kind that was endured by those learners?”
I however feel like June 16 is still significant on the bases that there are people to whom this day still means something to. For instance those who take education seriously, knowing that it did not come easy; that there were sacrifices—big sacrifices that transpired in order for a black child to relish the privileges of getting education.
Then there are those who do not respect or want anything to do with education (excluding those who are constricted by socio-economic issues). This is an extreme betrayal of what the youth of 1976 fought for.
In conclusion, no matter how disrespected the day may be, the youth of 76 did not die in vain and their fight will persist on being remembered by generations and generations to come.
Therefore, in commemoration of Youth Day, it is pivotal to remind the youth of South Africa that June 16 is not just a holiday, it was a horror movie that seemed like fiction—but in fact has yielded good fruits. Amandla!
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