First and foremost June 16 is a very prodigious commemoration for the past four decades(forty-two years).
We are in the youth month,16 June 1976 was when the youth of South Africa picketed in a stance to fight against the rampant racism and the quality of education of that epoch.The well known cliché and epithet that is used to describe that incident of 16 June 1976 is“The Soweto Uprisings”; the youth of 1976 confronted the mightiest apartheid military regime in Africa.
A plethora of Soweto students perished in 1976.Those are the heroes to be honored with dignity. From that day socio-political landscape in South Africa was changed tremendously. Today’s youth must take a leaf from the youth of 1976.
The youth of today must keep that euphoria and fever pitch aura of the much vaunted revolution.They must be antagonistic to everything that threatens the democracy of their democratic nation.
The offsprings of Soweto are old age now, some in their late 40s, 50s and 60s they did very well in their stance of fighting inequality and racism but now it is the obligation for the youth of today to keep that spirit of 16 June 1976.
Alot of blood was shed during that era including our heroes Hector Pieterson, Hastings Ndlovu and a gallant political activist Tsietsi Mashinini to mention a few. Hector was shot and killed by the brutality of that apartheid regime.This must struck a chord in all the youth of South Africa.
Willy-nilly there are colossal challenges and problem that are faced by the youth of today. On the 27th of April 1994 the state of South Africa held its first democratic elections ever and tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was democratically elected to become the first black president of the republic of South Africa.
The youth of South Africa must shun all evil acts. South Africa is not a warzone so youth must play their role to curb all the evil and shenanigans acts for the betterment of the Country’s future.
The future of South Africa is shaped by the youth because they are the fathers, mothers, parents and leaders of tomorrow. The violent confrontations must neither be tolerated nor appreciated. Youth must cultivate peace, love, unity and forgiveness. Nelson Mandela taught us that South Africa belongs to Blacks and Whites, not excluding the Africans from other nations outside South African borders.
Thereis an increasing conflict in the parliament and the escalation of demands for better service delivery which have grown exponentially across South Africa.The populace is continuing to live in indigence.This has caused hostility, misery and pain among the Blacks. Myriad of township schools are left desolate and burnt down by fire, property vandalised, infrastructure damaged and dead bodies everywhere.
To overcome all the challenges they faced with, Youth of today must prioritise education. Education is the remedy to all the problems which are currently faced by the youth of today.
Shunning all evil is the antidote to the success and the victory of today’s youth.The modern day existentialism philosophy is what the youth of today experience. Lets arrest all the mundane gusto here and now by shunning racism, crime, partying, debauchery and lasciviousness and the scourge of drug abuse. Youth must loathe imbibing and intoxication of alcohol; they must be filled with patriotic and nationalistic fervor and zeal towards building the beautiful South African nation and they must not encourage crime .
The youth have a monumental obligation to build South Africa and not to destroy it. They must take a leaf from the great heroes of 1976; the good they did and achieved in a stance to fight all evil acts of racism, crime, segregation and inequality.
Youthful stage is the right age and opportunity to make right choices. A wise and clever youth chooses a friend that encourages them to do good things like the biblical Daniel had good friends. A good friend encourages one to read and get educated before marriage. A mature Youth should pledge not to get married before graduation or to get married without a wedding. The youth must have mentors who guide them in their spiritual and social growth and well being. One cannot become a mentor while they have never been mentees; mentoring is very compulsory and crucial.
Victory is always certain and success manifest if the youth of South Africa come together and build their beautiful and blessed nation. Finally South African youth must have insights and nostalgia for June 16 and what it meant to them.