1 to 30 Jun 2016
June is celebrated as Youth Month in South Africa, with a specific focus on 16 June, which is also known as Youth Day. Youth Month pays tribute to the school pupils who lost their lives during the 16 June 1976 uprising in Soweto.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Soweto uprisings. The theme for Youth Month is: “Youth Moving South Africa Forward”
On 16 June 1976, more than 15 000 students gathered at Orlando West Secondary School with the intention of participating in a peaceful march to the nearby Orlando Stadium.
The demonstration had been planned in protest against the use of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction at schools.
However, the police and armed forces responded to the protest violently and the first fatality of the day was Hector Pieterson, a 12 year old pupil who was shot by the police. It is believed that 175 others were also killed that day.
This violent backlash to what was meant to be a peaceful march caught the attention of the international community. After this event, many countries imposed sanctions on South Africa in an attempt to force the apartheid government to ease its repressive rule.
Follow us on Twitter @GovernmentZA and @GCISMedia; join the conversation using the #YouthMonth #AreyengOrlandoStadium #YouthDay
Speeches, statements and advisories
- Minister Jeff Radebe launches 2016 Youth Month Campaign [Video]
- President Jacob Zuma addresses National Youth Day commemoration in Soweto, 16 Jun
- Minister Jeff Radebe launches Youth Month in Soweto, 1 Jun
- Youth Development Agency launches 2016 National Youth Month Programme, 1 Jun
- Speech by Minister Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, on the occasion of the launch on Youth Month 2016, 1 Jun
- Address by Minister Nathi Mthethwa on the occasion of the launch of the Youth Month 2016, 1 Jun
- Closing Remarks by Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Mr Buti Manamela, on the occasion of the launch of Youth Month 2016, 1 Jun
- Minister Jeff Radebe: 16 June 40th Anniversary state of readiness, 14 Jun
