1-30 June
This year marks the 48th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, when young people protested against the Bantu Education Act, which enforced Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools, and apartheid laws that oppressed black South Africans.
During their demonstration, heavily armed police fired on the students resulting in the tragic loss of many innocent lives. The 1976 Soweto uprising was a turning point in our nation’s struggle for liberation.
In honour of their lives and many sacrifices, we commemorate National Youth Day on 16 June every year since 1994. This year’s commemoration of Youth Month, which will be held under the theme “Actively advancing socioeconomic gains of our democracy”, will have added significance as it coincides with the celebration of 30 Years of Freedom.
Amongst other key areas, this year’s youth month commemoration focuses on sports for development of our youth and our nation and includes various developmental activities that will be held around the country in the lead up to Youth Day.
Our first democratic president, Nelson Mandela said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.”
Sport has the power to positively impact the lives of youth and help them tackle some of the challenges they face. Through sport, the youth can unlock opportunities for growth and investment.
