June 16th commemorates the courage of the youth of 1976 who took a stand against the violent apartheid regime. It is often hailed as a defining moment of the Anti-Apartheid struggle. It is also the day that many disillusioned youngsters rejected Apartheid education to join the freedom struggle.
Many families still bare the scars of losing their sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. It was a time of tragedy and heroism, that South Africa can hold up as an example of the conviction of the youth facing the oppressive forces of the day.
With freedom won, our youth like the rest of society have largely grown weary of 'the struggle' and are more inclined to be caught up in consumeristic trends than socio-economic debates.
Yet, the patriotism of today's youth is palpable in their creative expression and pursuit of identity, as never before.
If we are reminded of anything today, let it be that: education and poverty are still struggles that require the conviction of all, particularly the youth, if freedom is to become a lived reality.
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