Annually 16 June is celebrated as Youth Day to honor the youth of 1976 who was shot by the apartheid government for protesting against Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools.
Soshanguve Pulse took to the streets to find out the significance and relevance of celebrating Youth Day from the youth of today.
Mr Gift Masilo, a student at the Tshwane University of Technology doing his third year said he is inspired by the youth of 1976 because of the measures they took to bring us to where we are in terms of our education system.
“We celebrate leaders like black consciousness movement leader, Steve Biko, even though we feel that today the government of the day has betrayed the struggle of the 1976 youth.
Ms Gontse Makhafola, a resident of Soshanguve extension 4, said today she can freely learn and know he rights because of the efforts taken by the youth of 1976.
“We should continue celebrating the youth of 1976 so that even the upcoming generations should know where we come from as a country,” said Ms Makhafola.
Mr Lethlohonolo Banda, a student at Tshwane North College who feels that if it was not for the youth of 1976 we would not be here today.
“As a country we still hold the significance of the day, as the black community we still the youth of 1976 as icons because they made things change for us, and for that, we should be grateful. Said Mr Banda.
