Emulate 1976 heroes, new generation of youth urged

06 June 2016

 

The current generation of youth were at the weekend urged to take a leaf out of their 1976 counterparts’ book by empowering themselves through education and innovation and making a contribution to the country’s economic growth.

 

This was during a Youth Enterprise Outreach Programme staged at the Johannesburg City Hall on Saturday June 4 under the auspices of the Girls and Boys Friendly Society (GFS).

Held in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Government, City of Johannesburg, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg Cathedral of St Mary and the Johannesburg Inter-Faith Based Organisation, under the theme “African Youth Joining Hands in Building their Future”, the event was attended by GFS members from Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Angola and St Helena.

It was also graced by GFS World President Canon Val Gribble of Australia.

South Africa’s Small Business Development Deputy Minister, Elizabeth Thabethe, called on the current crop of youth to emulate those of 1976, who fought against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in black schools in particular and Bantu education in general.

Many of the students paid with their lives. But not only was Afrikaans abolished as a teaching subject, the uprising also rejuvenated political consciousness that contributed to the intensification of the overall struggle for freedom.

Deputy Minister Thabethe said the government was committed to empowering the youth to develop the country’s economy. However, she said the youth should do their bit by educating themselves and coming up with new innovations. She said the government was doing everything in its power to reduce the rate of unemployment and undo the legacy of apartheid.

“The government would like to work with the private sector in empowering our youth and do away with poverty. We want our people not to depend on social grants. Our government believes in teaching the people how to catch a fish. We believe we should have more businesspeople. We have training centres where the youth can learn business skills.

“The future is in your hands. You can become what you want to become. The choice is with you. I implore you to do the right thing.”

Mike Madlala, Deputy Chairperson of the Gauteng Legislature, said the provincial government believed in youth development. Madlala said as future leaders the current generation of youth should grab every available opportunity to improve their lives.

The Reverend Gift Moerane, Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches in Gauteng, said churches had failed today’s youth by not guiding them to be better future adults.

“The church must preach the gospel truth to the youth to make them better citizens,” he said.