By Mzukona Mantshontsho
Tuesday 16 June 2026 should be a reminder of the 50th year of the struggles by the Class of 1976 to bring democracy in our country.
The Class of 1976 was forced to learn all their subjects in school in Afrikaans. The learners of 1976 said NO MORE!
The Class of 1976 was met by a regime of the day with aggression, bloodshed as well as fatalities.
The Youth of 1976 fought so that we can enjoy the opportunities we have today.
Let us take a stand to correct all the ills in our communities, workplaces, churches, and schools.
The youth of 2026 must enjoy the fruits of liberation.
Let’s spend more time at school and work and less time at night-clubs, taverns and shebeens.
Let us take a stand against Nyaope, Unprotected Sex, Xenophobia, Drug and Substance Abuse.
Let us do our best as learners today to live up to the struggles that the Class of 1976 fought for!
Every time new leadership is introduced, it allows for new enthusiasm, innovations, ideas and a change of mindset.
Observing the politics, emotions and theatrics at play every time there is a change in leadership; people react either with enthusiasm or strong resistance.
Our reaction to this new leadership is based on the reputation of the existing leadership in government, combined with expectations and hopes of improvement from the new one.
Either way, the introduction of new leadership brings with it a weird mixture of uncertainty, combined with hope and excitement.
If we do not like our leaders we must banish them,
If we do not like our government, we must fight to change it,
If we do not like the way things are going, we must speak out and stop it.
Building a great South Africa is the job of each one of us.
We can never entrust that to just a few people seated in the comfortable seats of OUR BURNT parliament – but we can direct them……..#NationalYouthDay!
