More white youth need to be involved in commemorating heroes of the country’s past, the National Youth Commission said on Monday. Chairperson Jabu Mbalula said the organisation ”has not succeeded in mobilising the white youth”.
”As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto student uprising, the challenge is to get all the South African youth involved.”
Mbalula was speaking at the launch of the 30th anniversary of the June 16 uprisings held at the Morris Isaacson High School in Soweto.
The aim of the launch was to unveil a month-long youth programme, to run from June 5 to June 29 under the theme Deepening Youth Participation in South Africa’s Development.
”Part of what we are doing is to make all citizens understand that they needn’t have been at the uprisings physically to celebrate the event,” Mbalula said.
He said as part of the South African history, everyone, irrespective of who they are, should be involved. ”We have been engaging in talks with white youth organisations to ensure that they organise themselves to be part of the mainstream,” he said.
Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo urged South Africa’s youth to unite in tackling issues facing them today.
Today’s youth is faced with unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse. ”The youth [need to] take control and tackle those key issues. By so doing, they will be participating in making their communities better,” Masondo said.
Thabo Kubu, of the June 16 Foundation, said its main objective is to preserve the legacy of the youth of 1976. ”The aim was to constructively contribute to the upliftment of all South Africans. This year, the main focus will be on unemployment and poverty,” he said.
Also attending the launch were provincial minister of recreation, arts and culture Barbara Creecy and Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad.
Creecy and Pahad urged learners at Morris Isaacson High School to understand their heritage and be proud of their school as it contributes greatly to the freedom of the country.
”I urge you to start a project that will look at the contribution made by those who were here in 1976. The only way you are going to appreciate the lost lives is to do something about it. I will come back in nine months to check on the project,” Pahad said.
He also urged matriculants to be motivated by their history to achieve better results. — Sapa