BY OBAKENG MAJE
African National Congress Youth League in North West (ANCYL) gathered together at Pudimoe Community hall in Taung in celebration of June 16 on Tuesday.

The day is celebrated in order to recognize the role of youth in the liberation of South Africa from the Apartheid regime.

Those who attended the event was ANC mother-body in the province and ANCYL leadership.

Various schools were in attendance and many youth dressed in various school uniforms.

Hundreds of students were killed during the protest back in 1976. Although this youth revolution did not see the taking back of the language order immediately, it did see a turning point in South Africa’s liberation campaign which ultimately saw the downfall of the apartheid government there.

The former youth league member in the province, Pontsho Kgosieng said Youth Day in South Africa is celebrated in memory of all the youngsters who lost their lives during the protest, especially the death of Hector Pieterson, a 12 year old student who was killed during the uprising.

“The day is celebrated around the country in order to celebrate the energy of youth. The youth of 1976 fought for liberation and now our youth is fighting a different battle. This day also sees various educational discussions being organized by school and college students around the country. Various youth oriented non- profit organizations also organize awareness campaigns on this day to make the youth of the country aware of the challenges in the current environment of the country,” Kgosieng said.

ANCYL provincial secretary Sipho Dial said the youth of today are fighting for economic emancipation and more jobs need to be created.

“The youth are faced with different issues compared to 1976 youth. The country experiences decline in job-creation and now that leaves more youth with blank future. The youth are faced with HIV epidemic, unemployment, teenage pregnancy and alcohol and drug abuse issues,” Dial said.

The ANCYL chairperson, Collen Maine who was also pronounced as the presidential candidate for ANCYL nationally, encourages the youth to use education as the gateway vehicle from poverty.

“The ANC-led government’s Freedom Charter said the doors of learning shall be opened. I would like to encourage the youth to use education as the tool to survive and alleviate poverty.

“We know that to have a better society, we need to learn and stop engaging in issues like drugs and alcohol that will destroy our future. The future of this country is in our hands, now is the time for us to take the baton and work hard. What legacy would we leave behind?” Maine outlines.

All four districts in North West gathered together to celebrate June 16 2015.

One of the youth who attended the event, Kedibone Matshidiso from Pudimoe location said “It was the Soweto Uprising which laid the grounds for the release of Nelson Mandela and the end of the Apartheid regime in the country,” she said.

-TDN

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