Youth praised for being progressive in honour of the 76′ class
The event was hosted by the June 16 Youth Development Foundation together with Activate, Moral Regeneration Movement and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
Seth Mazibuko, who was one of the most prominent leaders of the June 16 Soweto Uprising has thanked today’s youth for playing their part in South Africa’s democracy.
The struggle veteran said today’s young people have managed to turn things around and give us a new South Africa with their votes.
“In 1994 people were talking about a new South Africa but today I’m talking about this new South Africa which is happening in 2024.
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“This is where young people went out in their numbers to their voting stations to say this is the kind of South Africa they want,” said Mazibuko.
He made these remarks during a Youth Day commemoration ceremony held at the Avalon Cemetery this past weekend.
The event was hosted by the June 16 Youth Development Foundation together with Activate, Moral Regeneration Movement and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
Leaders of these organisations together with a group of young people visited the graves of Hector Pieterson, Tsietsi Mashinini and other leaders of the June 16 Soweto Uprising to lay flowers and pay their respects.
“Solomon Mahlangu said ‘My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom’. I’m asking today’s young people to please protect this tree and don’t cut it down,” said Mazibuko.
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“Please water this tree, but not with your blood anymore because we did it for you. Here lies Hector Pieterson who did it with his blood and yours is to do it with your sweat.”
This year’s June 16 commemorations came at a time when political leaders are working to form what they call a Government of National Unity which came as a result of the May 29 elections where no one party obtained an outright majority.
Mazibuko attributes this to young people who went out to cast their votes and decided that this is the type of government they want. He also thanked them for being strong and said there is light at the end of the tunnel.
