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Joburg's mayor condemned racism, xenophobia and crime at June 16 commemorations, and called on everyone to inspire young people with the ethos and values of ubuntu.
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo lays a wreath at the Hector Pieterson Memorial on Youth Day (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
YOUTH Day should be used to condemn the recent violet attacks on foreigners; rampant criminality; and the malignant cancer of racism, xenophobia and ethnic violence.
This was the sentiment of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Amos Masondo, who spoke first at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hector Pieterson Memorial, and then at a celebratory concert at Johannesburg Stadium, on Youth Day, 16 June.
In a strongly worded statement, Masondo said there was a need to speak and act against those who were not committed to an inclusive society and sought to undermine efforts to build unity.
The gathering would like to echo the ANC Youth League's resolve that, "The youth must defend our hard-won freedom and our democracy with everything they have. They must rise against this thuggery and hooliganism, work with and claim back their communities.
Working with organs of civil society they must ensure that order prevails in our communities and that our people are educated on the kind of society we espouse."
Everyone should strive to inspire the youth with the ethos and values of ubuntu. It was important to teach young people values such as personal integrity, solidarity with the poor, selflessness and preparedness to do voluntary work that benefited our communities, the mayor said.
"The youth of today should honour the martyrs of 1976 by defending the gains of our freedom, refusing to be part of those who disrespect our freedom by abusing other people, robbing, raping, killing them and destroying public and private property."
Common responsibility
He called on everyone to adopt a common responsibility "to fight the evil of genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, prejudice, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and all other related ills that constitute a blight to humanity".
Masondo said he would like to see young people follow the example of unwavering commitment set by the 1976 youth when they confront today's challenges of HIV and Aids, poverty, unemployment, crime, racism, sexism, and outbreaks of xenophobic attacks.
He was joined at the commemorations by the Gauteng premier, Mbhazima Shilowa; the MEC for sport, arts, culture and recreation, Barbara Creecy; the member of the mayoral committee for community development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza; the member of the mayoral committee for health, Matshidiso Mfikoe; the member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana Moosajee; members of the June 16, 1976 Foundation; and the chairperson of the Gauteng Youth Commission, Lebogang Maile, and scores of ordinary citizens.
The iconic picture Sam Nzima picture of Hector Pieterson being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo, with Hector's sister, Antoinette Sithole running alongside, greeted them at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, in Orlando West, Soweto. They had gathered to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the June 16, 1976 uprising, which erupted in Soweto and rapidly spread across the country.
Pieterson was one of the first casualties, shot by apartheid police, and the picture became symbolic of the revolution across the world. Young people were protesting against the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction at Bantu education schools.
The first leg of the day's activities, was a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial, to pay homage to the learners who were casualties of the riots. From there, the gathering moved to Johannesburg Stadium in Bertrams, where a concert celebrated the opportunities, freedom and success that the youth of today enjoy.
Wreath laying
Speaking as the master of ceremonies at the wreath laying, Creecy, noted that commemorations were tailored to honour anti-apartheid stalwarts, who had dedicated their lives to South Africa's liberation.
"In present years we have to evaluate progress and rededicate our course to the redevelopment of our youth."
Commemorations were also an opportunity for the provincial government to take stock of the progress made and rededicate its energies to tackling the complex and challenging issues of promoting the development of young people.
Mayathula-Khoza highlighted that it was important to host such commemorations every year, to "pay respect to the families whose children gave their lives to bring about liberation".
"We have to salute them for their courage and dedication to our democracy, equality in education and freedom from oppression," she said of the deceased. What those "comrades fought for, is what we enjoy today". It was important for the youth of today to safeguard the legacy left them by the youth of 1976.
Wreaths were laid near a plague unveiled by Nelson Mandela on 16 June 1992, by Masondo, Shilowa, Maile and members of the June 16, 1976 Foundation.
Concert
From there it was off to Johannesburg Stadium, were youngsters in school uniforms were chanting political slogans and ululating. Keynote speaker Shilowa spoke in almost all of South Africa's 11 official languages, alternating from one language to the other, urging the youth to focus on their future.
"Let us be determined to build our country in a way that we will all be proud of, and leave a great legacy for our children," he said. Shilowa also encouraged everyone to take part in next year's elections, and determine their future.
After the speeches, it was music, with Revolution, T'zozo and Professor, Tuks Senganga, and DJ Vetkoek vs Mahoota getting the groove on until late in the afternoon.
The Youth Day celebrations were themed Entrenching our democracy: all youth to the polls, and were held under the auspices of the City, the Gauteng provincial government, the June 16, 1976 Foundation and the Gauteng Youth Commission.
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