Suntosh Pillay, Dean Horwitz and Cindy Kotzé took to the corridors of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the University of Cape Town and Mandela Metropolitan University and asked students what June 16 meant to them.
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Martin Radebe, a human-resource management student
“June 16 is about remembering the past, because it is also the future. It represents a turning point for South Africa.”
Christina Fears, an Africana studies major doing a BA
“I’m American [June 16], is just two days after my birthday, so I’m still going to be hung over.”
She knows why June 16 is significant only because it was covered in one of her classes, but agrees that “it should be a holiday, because in America we also have holidays like Martin Luther King Day and Independence Day”.
Lucia Sibiya, media and communications student
“Youth Day is a day when we celebrate the autonomy of the youth and its influence on society as a whole in terms of the policies and ideologies which we are surrounded by.”
Savannah Zacharias, a BSc student
Zacharias said her “mind just went blank” when asked about June 16.
After remembering it was Youth Day, she said: “It is important for us to celebrate being young and beautiful.” She planned to spend the day catching up on work and relaxing.
University of Cape Town
Greg Gelb, social sciences student
“June 16 is about honouring the youth, respect to the youth about what they have accomplished in their lives. Youth are also rewarded by a holiday, which is great stuff.”
Henri-Michel Yere, PHD student in contemporary history
“June 16 is the symbol of the revolt of a generation of people who were born and grew up under apartheid. Young people who stood up in revolt were not necessarily part of the ANC, which is important to remember. June 16 is a reminder that angry people took responsibility and acted to create their own history, on their own terms.” He would try to remember the day by talking about it to friends, he said.
Thandi Aranes, social science student
“I feel sorry for all those who lost their lives in the struggle, however, the day holds no personal meaning for me. I have nothing to commemorate. However, it brings to mind those images of the massacre in Sharpeville and that particular picture of Hector Petersen.”
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Babalwa Mapelane, an electrical engineering student
Mapelane said she would be at the Youth Day celebrations in Motherwell in honour of those who died on the day.
Jenine John, IT communication network student
John said on June 16 she would be enjoying her youth, which should be celebrated because “it’s part of our history and on that day the youth stood up for themselves because of what they believed in”.
Lerenzo Francis, journalism student
Francis said: “It’s a holiday so I’ll be sleeping, but we should celebrate it because it is part of our history.”
Saafia Khan, BA media communications and culture student
“Youth Day should be celebrated everywhere and be accessible to all.”
Masilakhe Sikholi, an environmental health student
Sikholi would definitely be celebrating June 16 because “a lot of people put their lives on the line for the youth to reap the rewards today”.
Keri Leo, radiography student
Leo said she would be working at the hospital but “we should celeÂbrate it in remembrance of the people who died”.
Werner Erasmus, marketing student
Erasmus believes “June 16 should definitely be celebrated because the youth is the future of South Africa”.