The many liberties we have enjoyed over the last 20 Years of Freedom are owed to the people who bravely and uncompromisingly fought against the evil apartheid system.
Among our struggle heroes and heroines are countless young South Africans, in particular the Class of 1976, who courageously opposed the brutal force of the apartheid regime.
Their actions exposed the ruthlessness of the apartheid security apparatus to the world. The images of schoolchildren being gunned down by the police during a peaceful demonstration on 16 June 1976 in Soweto focused the attention of the international community on South Africa.
The youth of 1976 became history makers who profoundly changed the socio-political landscape of the country. Their struggle against overwhelming odds will forever live on in our national consciousness
Addressing the Presidential Youth Indaba earlier this year, President Jacob Zuma said: “Thousands of young people took on the apartheid state fearlessly and fought to bring about the free, just, equal, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa that we live in today.”
He added: “It is through the selfless sacrifices of thousands of young people, workers and indeed ordinary men and women in our country, that we are able to say that we have a good story to tell.”
In June we will celebrate Youth Month in honour of the contributions made by young people in defeating apartheid, liberating our country and entrenching democracy.
Their actions, even today, continue to stand as a beacon of hope. During this Youth Month let us harness the spirit of 1976 by encouraging today’s young people to be actively involved in addressing the challenges they face and defining the country they want to live in.
While the Class of 1976 fought for freedom and the creation of a democratic state, today’s youth activism is directed towards tackling the challenges of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, HIV and AIDS, personal development and economic freedom.
Young people are key to their own development. They must take ownership of the issues that concern them so that they can collectively find creative solutions.
Furthermore, through active participation in their communities they can become agents of change. By making their voices heard they can influence policies and ensure that institutions that serve them are accountable.
As important participants in society young people can no longer simply be passive recipients of government services. Moreover, they must never believe they are too young to make their voices heard and bring about positive change.
With youth unemployment being a real challenge, youth have the opportunity to re-skill themselves through our second chance programmes at Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges. Formal education and training, learnerships and internships are also available.
The Small Enterprise Development Agency and the National Youth Development Agency supports young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. Young entrepreneurs help contribute to a more inclusive economy that will help overcome the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
In addition, our youth have an important role to play in confronting the country’s social ills. Gangsterism, drugs and substance abuse cannot be allowed to destroy our communities. Youth are integral to the success of our HIV prevention campaigns, they should offer peer support to those who live with the virus and encourage them to continue with treatment.
Government is committed to support young people in their development and will provide the necessary assistance for them to rise above their socio-economic challenges.
Over the last twenty years we have supported young South Africans with opportunities for economic, social and cultural development.
Our pro-youth policies have empowered them and created institutional capacity dedicated to their development and prosperity.
To support this government has introduced measures to boost labour absorption and to create an environment for economic growth that assist in their development over the long term.
However, we cannot address all the needs of the youth on our own; we need partnerships with civil society and the business community.
This generation is the bedrock on which our future will be built. The National Development Plan – the country’s blueprint over the next 17 years - singles out the youth as central to our Vision 2030.
Let us follow in the footsteps of the Class of 1976 with young people actively defining the country they want to live in. With an active youth our future is bright. You have a strong voice, youth of South Africa; use it to bring about positive change to communities and the county.
Phumla Williams is Acting CEO of the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS)
