Your Excellency, Mr. President, Jacob Zuma
Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa
The Premier of Gauteng, Mr. David Makhura
His Worship the Mayor of Tshwane
Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency, Mr. Yershen Pillay
Ministers and Deputy Ministers
MEC’s
Invited Guests and Dignitaries
Today marks the 39th Anniversary of June 16, 1976 and therefore a commemoration of our country’s Youth Month. We remember the courage, resilience, bravery, fearlessness of the young people who stood firmly against the ugly system of apartheid and proclaimed “Enough is Enough”.
We remember their power in the face of live ammunition, grenades, teargas and sjamboks held by men who were sent by the repressive regime of apartheid to suppress their voices.
We remember their shouts, as they clenched their fists in the air, “Phantsi nge Bantu Education”, “Down with Apartheid”, “Forward with Democracy”, “Release Nelson Mandela”
We deep our banners to the fallen heroes of that day and to those who took the banner and died in battle, in the streets of Soweto, Seshego, Guguletu, Mdantsane, Mitchelle’s Plain, Chartsworth, Thabong, Upington, Eersterus, Mafikeng and every corner of our country who joined the cry for “Freedom in our Lifetime”
We also remember Tsietsi Mashinini, Khotso Seatlholo, Murphy Morobe, Seth Mazibuko, Billy Masetlha, Super Moloi, Daniel Montsitsi, Sibongile Mthembu Mkhabela, Paul Langa, Hector Pieterson and many others whose bodies were pierced by the bullets of the uncaring apartheid system.
We celebrate the June 16 detachment that squeezed the borders of South Africa from the borders of Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania and everywhere else were the energy-filled young soldiers of MK, APLA and AZANLA found their base.
We remember Solomon Mahlangu, Barney Molokoane, Steve Biko and many others who dies young while keeping the banner of liberation high.
To them we say, your life was not lost in vain.
You have brought for democracy. You have fought for a better life for all. You have broken the last chains of slavery. You have brought to an end the shame that our people were subjected to, daily, by apartheid.
And to you we say, we will make South Africa better.
We will continue to fight for a radical economic transformation, for land, for common prosperity, for the remaining remnants of racism, sexism and exploitation.
We will end drugs, alcohol and substance abuse. We will Make Education Fashionable. We will protect libraries, clinics and schools from being burned. We will forever look for a hand up, and not a handout. We will fight against corruption.
We are not a lost generation. We are a generation that has just enjoyed 20 years of Freedom and of Democracy. We will use your efforts as the foundation for an equal society.
You took up guns, we will take up books. You brought an end to apartheid, we will end illiteracy. You ended corporal punishment, we will bring to an end teenage pregnancy. We will unite, as the youth, Black, Indian, Coloured and Whites, as patriotic citizens, of a rainbow nation.
The National Youth Policy 2020 is our programme, our guide, our call to action to take matters in our own hands and be entrepreneurs, to create jobs, to be active in the economy, to fight HIV/AIDS, to get education, and to build a better South Africa.
We are the Future! No one Can Stop Us!
Forward to Economic Freedom Forward!
You are welcome to this national commemorations and celebrations of June 16.
Racism Must Fall
Nyaope Must Fall
Illiteracy Must Fall
Poverty Must Fall
Exploitation Must Fall
Corruption Must Fall
Child Abuse Must Fall
Xenophobia Must Fall
Savanna Must Fall
Teenage Pregnancy Must Fall
Violent Protests Must Fall
