Mashatile leads the procession to honour Tsietsi Mashinini in Soweto
This was in line with this year’s Mandela Day theme in response to the impact of climate change and addressing poverty challenges.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has hailed one of the leaders of the 1976 Soweto uprising, Tsietsi Mashinini as a key figure who forged the path of liberation in South Africa, honouring him as a true icon.
Mashatile spent his Nelson Mandela Day in Soweto as part of the global 67 minutes commemorations on Tuesday in what would have been the 105 birthday of the founding president.
Mashatile, accompanied by the Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute, led government activities at Morris Isaacson High School where Mashinini was a student leader during the 1976 uprising.
“We chose to come to your school because today will be honouring Tsietsi Mashinini and we will be putting a wreath at his memorial.
“So we thought it’s important when we do that to come to the school where he used to attend. So you are following the history of the very important cadre of a movement that Tsietsi Mashinini and his generation started.
“The protests in 1976 against Afrikaans were not just against Afrikaans but were the beginning of a struggle to bring about change not only to education, but a better South Africa.
“We are today in this South Africa because of the struggles that he fought with his generation. So we honour them today, we honour him and that generation of young leaders who went to the front and said we will bring about change in this country,” Mashatile said, addressing the learners.
As part of honouring and paying homage to Mashinini, the Deputy President laid wreaths at his memorial statue, a few minutes from the school.
Bandile Mashinini, brother to the late Tsietsi said, “The events that unfolded today were very interesting.
It is refreshing to see our government acknowledging the contribution of the 1976 youth. I think the Deputy President is the first among our top political office bearers to have done such a significant and symbolic initiative to honour Tsietsi and we as the Mashinini family are appreciative of that.
If you want to relate it to the occasion of Mandela Day, I think it is also befitting to say that the leadership of the country has come in different generations.
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“It’s important to acknowledge the generations as they come and the generations that participated in the struggle of this country. We are grateful for the gesture from our government and Deputy President.”
The Deputy President took part in planting 12 additional vegetable beds at the school, which is aimed at curbing poverty and equipping learners with skills.
This was in line with this year’s Mandela Day theme in response to the impact of climate change and addressing poverty challenges.
Acting Principal Sikheto Hlabangwane said, “The role played by the Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute is very important particularly to our learners.
“They have established this vegetable garden which the main aim is to teach our learners the skills on how to plant , not just to eat in the kitchen or take home,” he said , adding that the institute had also revamped the library and donated resources as well as chairs to mitigate the challenges regarding furniture at the school.
While in Soweto, Deputy President Mashatile together with representatives of the National Youth Development Agency, Clinix Health Group and the Gauteng Provincial Government proceeded to the Matseke High School.
Dr. Mtseke handed over school shoes at the Orlando West School – this school was built by his late father.
