The Limpopo MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ms Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana
The Executive Mayor of Polokwane Local Municipality, Councillor John Mpe
Executive Chairperson of the NYDA, Ms Asanda Luwaca
University of Limpopo Executive Director of Marketing and Communication, Mr Victor Kgomoetshwana
Members of the NYDA Board and of the University of Limpopo Council present
Acting Director-General and Officials of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
All the Creatives present today
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good day!
During Youth Month and Youth Day, we recognise a period in this country’s history where young people came together to protest the evil and unjust system of apartheid. They were organized at every corner of the country in their protests against a racist, brutal, repressive and feared regime. They were met with violence and many of them were detained, shot and killed.
This University itself, which was called Turfloop at the time, was also not left behind, with students here taking a stand.
On the morning of 16 June 1976, around 20 000 black students walked from their schools to Orlando Stadium for a rally, where they protested about being forced to learn all subjects in Afrikaans, in their township schools. Many students who later participated in the protest arrived at schools that morning without prior knowledge of the protest but agreed to become involved because they had experienced the evil, oppressive apartheid system.
More than anything these young people associated the Afrikaans language with apartheid, as a symbol of oppression and dehumanization. The protest was planned by the Soweto Students' Representative Council's (SSRC) Action Committee, with support from the wider Black Consciousness Movement. Teachers in Soweto also supported the march after the Action Committee emphasized good discipline and peaceful actions.
What started in Soweto, spiralled to many other townships schools, communities and black universities in South Africa. It spiralled to many other cities and towns, where similar protests took place. Many young people were fearless and determined to see the end of an apartheid government. Despite hearing on the radio that many other people’s protests were met with fierce and violent police force, that led to many fellow young people being maimed and killed, they remained unyielding.
It is fitting that we commemorate this day today at the University of Limpopo, which boasts alumni of freedom fighters such as Dipuo Peters, Tito Mboweni, Cassel Mathale, Reverend Frank Chikane and Mathews Phosa, to mention a few. We are thankful to vice-chancellor Professor Mahlo Makgalong for partnering with our department on this day and we hope that more is to come.
Another notable University of Limpopo alumni whose spirit lives forever is Ongopotse Tiro, who was an activist student on this campus, a founder member of the South African Students Organisation (SASO) and a leader of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM). One of the moments in which Tiro displayed his fearlessness was when he delivered a speech at the University’s graduation ceremony in 1972, which sharply criticised the Bantu Education Act of 1953. The speech is known as the “Turfloop Testimony”. As we commemorate this day, we should remember him in this space which is fittingly named after him.
We commemorate the June 16 Uprisings which took place 48 years ago. We remember the leadership shown by the youth of 1976. We remember the lives that were lost in the struggle for education, and we remember a period in our history that we should dare not repeat.
The June 16 Uprising influenced the course of the liberation struggle against apartheid. South Africa’s Democratic Government marked 16 June as a National Day. This day is dedicated to the memory of the fallen heroes and heroines. It serves to perpetuate the memory of those who died for a just education. This day inspires us as a nation to to carry on with their legacy and principles of selflessness, determination and devotion, that are necessary for success and growth for any society or nation.
Government took as conscious decision to have the day commemorated as Youth Day on the 16th of June every year. Furthermore, Cabinet decaled that each of the National Days be marked for the whole month on which a specific national day falls, hence we have Youth Month. The advent of the post-colonial and post-apartheid democratic political dispensation brought about the new way of looking at the day by rededicating it to the youth of South Africa.
This year marks the 48th year since the 1976 Student uprising. This year we commemorate the Youth Month under the theme: “Actively Embracing the Socio-economic gains of our Democracy”. We are also celebrating the 30 Years Freedom in South Africa, which we also attribute to the youth of 1976.
What can you as the youth do with this history, given many issues and challenges you face, such as:
- Unemployment
- Poverty
- Inequality
- Crime and GBV
As government we are taking steps to address these challenges, which still persist. We have created opportunities that contribute to improved social protection, fighting inequality, GBV, Crime and eradication of poverty as important component of development, for both human and economic development.
Government also has interventions dedicated to upskilling young people through various government initiatives, from bursaries to learnerships, to job-opportunity programmes such the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP). Yet, youth that is in remote areas still finds it difficult, if not impossible, to access these services. Similarly, gender equity will have to be considered when literacy skills programmes are being implemented, as the current studies show that there is a lower percentage of young women aged 15-24 being given equal opportunities compared to young men of the same age bracket.
Programmes such as the Cultural and Creative Industries Youth Careers Expo or CCI Youth Careers Expo, which we are running for the second year, is the Department’s intervention to empower the youth in the Creative Sector. There are many stories to be told on June 16 Uprisings – through music, writings, research, filming and visual arts that young people should pursue. We urge you to make new creative artworks around these National Days.
I challenge you that after the workshop session hereafter that you create new work inspired by these national days and the leaders whose names I mentioned earlier. We do have bursaries and funding available through the department and our funding agencies. This way these National days and these heroes of our liberation do not lose their significance, they should live in our memories and their heroic deeds should not fade away.
The aims of the Youth Careers Expo are manifold:
- The department has embarked on the programme in line with the 2024 Youth Month Theme of “Actively Embracing the Socio-economic gains of our Democracy”.
- The Expo intends to create a platform that will engage learners, creatives as job creators and not as job seekers.
- The Expo will also expose current and future initiatives within the different government departments and private sector where possible.
- The leaders within the different industries will share insights into trends, what the various important skills sets are needed today and share what experience is needed to navigate a successful career.
- To share information about government youth programmes to entrench knowledge.
- To make government services accessible and relatable to young people in a conducive environment.
- To inspire youth towards a patriotic and accountable citizenry
I urge you all to visit exhibition stands and interact with the Department of Home Affairs, the NYDA, the National Arts Council (NAC), the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF); Business and Arts South Africa (BASA); Nelson Mandela Museum and the University of Limpopo.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) presents several implications for skills development and education. The 4IR provides an opportunity for South African education institutions to create an environment of creativity and innovation. We are happy that the University of Limpopo has the vision to be one of the leading institutions in the 4IR environment. Our teams will explore ways that we can collaborate on this, because after all, most of the innovation is about creativity.
Partnerships are critical between learning institutions, employers, industry bodies, and government departments in ensuring that our young people, irrespective of their socio-economic background, are part of the 4IR. In the seventh administration, Government will explore policy development that is linked to the NDP’s focus on integrated development, government’s district-based coordinated approach and implementing programmes that follow the prescripts of the National Youth Policy 2020-2030.
In conclusion, one of the moments that our country is waiting for is the announcement of Cabinet so that government can continue to serve young people and communities, after the recent elections. I hope the young people present here, will take full advantage of the opportunities presented here, to choose careers in cultural and creative industries sector. You should all realise at the end of today and starting from today, that you can make a decent living out of this field and can employ other people, when you choose a career in Cultural & Creative Industries. Be inspired and be informed.
Nakhensa, Ke a leboha, Ndolivhua. I thank you!
