Youth Day to rock Mofolo Park

A SIZZLING line-up featuring the likes of Zahara and Mi Casa will beat the winter chill at Mofolo Park, in Soweto, where the Youth Day celebration will take place on Saturday.

Zahara, who has won eight South African Music Awards and filmed her first live DVD over the weekend, is expected to perform some of her best loved tunes, such as the hit, Loliwe. And the talented house trio, Mi Casa, another award-winner will keep the audience singing along to the harmonious voice of J-Something.

HHP, whose Bosso Ke Mang is the song of the moment countrywide, will remind everyone why he was nominated at the BET Awards for the best international act category in 2010 and won in the MTV African Music Awards in 2008.

On the ones and twos some of the country’s top deejays will keep the crowds jiving. They will include church groove leader DJ Oskido as well as DJ Zinhle, whose My Name Is track is all over the airwaves at the moment. Cutting edge YFM mix DJ Shimza will also do what he does best.

But before the party starts, the more solemn official programme will begin at 8am. Executive Mayor Parks Tau and Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane will lay wreaths at the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto, in memory of those students who died in 1976.

Tau will deliver the keynote address, in which he is expected to speak about the role played by the youth in the march towards democracy in South Africa. The programme will then move to Mofolo Park at 11am, where Mokonyane will speak. She is expected to emphasize the implementation of the Gauteng Integrated Youth Development Strategy by all provincial departments, municipalities and the private sector.

Exhibition stalls will be set up, where young people will be able to get information about opportunities that exist for them. In addition, the Home Affairs Department will be there for those who would like to apply for identity documents, and the Department of Health will man stalls where health checks can be done. Entrance to the event is free.