WeeklySA_AdminLESSONS: An act of courage by the class of 1976 for our youth to emulate…
By Sipho Mabuse
The war waged against June 16, 1976 to deny it deserved respect is as much a malicious wrestle with the memory of the nation to forget the greatest milestone that irreversibly turned the tide in favour.
Never since the Sharpeville Massacre of March 21, 1960 did South Africa’s struggling majority draw a line in the sand with their lives in face of danger as they did on June 16, 1976.
The declaration of the 1950s of ‘freedom in our lifetime’ that has sounded so distant had never been so nearer. All became clearer as the student relocated the struggle from the classroom into the streets.
That these were children, it did not matter to the heartless might of oppressors whose instinctive reaction to live is to kill. True to its brute force, in the eyes of the system Hector Pietersen (13), Hastings Ndlovu (15), and Christopher Trutter (15) were the enemy whose lives did not matter. Oppressors were doing what they knew best: the lives of the oppressed are not worthy of the body they live in even when under age. This is how the dreams of the mothers of the three, Hector, Hastings and Christopher were rudely snuffed out.
This is what Alice Walker meant when she said: “We are a people for whom others have died.” There is no greater courage than that. And there can be doubt or denying that the class of 1976 demonstrated this to the brim with the slogan ‘forward ever, backward never’.
This is a message that the present day youth dare not turn a deaf ear to. On this year’s 47th Anniversary of June 16, 1976, still rings unmistakably true.
The source of inspiration to this expressed courage derived from conduct of students from historic schools that include Orlando West Junior (Phuti), Orlando West High School, Morris Isaacson, Musi High, Naledi High, Orlando High, Diepkloof High School and Sekano Ntoane.
To echo Alice Walker, June 16, 1976 reminds all of us that freedom was not free. The youth and students of this country paid with their blood, sweat and tears.
The day elevates its meaning to the youth and students to look up to. The power to bring about changes would not have been as felt and made possible without the June 16, 1976 students’ movement.
That movement showed that power lies with the young people not with the positions. The lesson this movement left us with, is that for change to happen we must change ourselves first to see the change we wish to be.
June 16, 1976 was confirmation of the nation’s words, actions and deeds that someday we will be free and thus should the day be esteemed as a well to drink from to quench our thirst for knowledge to arm ourselves to confront the challenges facing (us as) with resolve to fight and to win fully aware that for as long as we lose a good fight, aluta continua.
This current generation would be wiser by remembering this day with gratitude, honour and decency. To forget this day would be no different as fools parted easily with their treasury.
The memory of our martyrs is a bond of memory tying us with one another into a bond of suffering together to free our minds from the legacy of apartheid education to advance not only ourselves, as individuals, but also the society and specifically communities we come from.
This day is therefore no less than a shrine for fir nation’s deep meditation and a baptismal for other young people joining the youth movement to regard the day as renewal and determination to deepen our commitment to make a change as a youth.
This commitment by our young should see them accept full responsibility for continuing to hold the baton firmly passed through working in our societies, communities to make our country a better place as the June 16, 1976 generation had intended and died for. This passing of the baton is not not without exemplary visionaries that came before us.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Nelson Mandela/Mangaliso Sobukwe generation said “Freedom In Our Lifetime”. That was a determination to say they were going to live and see that freedom day dawns.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the generation of Tsietsi Mashinini said “We Are The Last Generation To Be Oppressed” and had resolved to make the 1990s the last decade of apartheid. And that happened.
What is the responsibility of the youth and students today then?
It is to guard and protect the precious gift of freedom left for you by those that are no longer here. It is to utilise all the opportunities the freedom granted you to advance yourself, communities and families you come from. It is to take responsibility for leading the changes they wish to see in order to make a difference.
It is to understand that, without them, there is no future for this country. As a result, they must build it in the full knowledge that it is the kind of future you want to live in. It is believing that their responsibilities are part of the bigger struggle that the must continue to execute fully aware that the good of a cause of any struggle is not an easy path.
WHERE TO FROM HERE
The road to travel to this end, requires a responsive vehicle in the form of an organization geared for that purpose. The World Challenger Candidate is an organisation billed to undertake this noble task for societal wellbeing.
To this end the following should be tackled with a long distance view in mind. Though the focus for the 47th anniversary will be on drugs, substance and alcohol use, the project is an integral part of addressing the overall social ill that breeds and encourages harmful lifestyles and erodes true humanity.
There should be acceptance that this will not be an easy task. It needs a lot of effort and dedication. Many had similarly thought the apartheid system would last forever, but was put to an end by June 16, 1976 students when all seemed a mission impossible.
Our youth may think of themselves as too young to shoulder such a project, but then Hector Pietersen in Soweto was only 13 and Christopher Truter in Cape Town only 15 when they were killed. So were many of those that marched that day in their teens.
Some may even think that it will take too long for the project to succeed. But that is what the struggle is all about. It is nevertheless made easier to bear by an unbroken chain of values.
It should not be forgotten that the first impulse was set in motion by generations before and was brought to a finishing point completed by the June 16, 1976 generation.
The blossoming may not immediately show, but a tree can on grow tomorrow from the seed that is planted today.
Facts About Drug Abuse And Some Points Of Discussion
- Affects your brain and behaviour
- Population at Risk
* Glue 9 years old,
* Alcohol 10 – 12 years old
* Dagga 11 – 12 years old,
* Poly-drug use (alcohol, tobacco and dagga) 14 years old,
* Harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin at 16 – 17 years old, as reported by key informants.
- South African Police recorded 2,3 million cases of drug-related crimes over the past 10 years.
- A study of 50 homicides in a New York City precinct, noted for its high level of drug dealing, found that 42 percent were drug-related, and the drug-related homicides more often involved firearms and younger male victims.
- In remembrance of this day think of Hector’s mom, Dorothy Molefi; spare a thought for Christopher’s mom, Rebecca Trustee. These mothers loved their sons to lose at their tender ages.
- There certainly is a whole world waiting for you to make it better.
- For the world to get better, it requires a better you.
- So be good for good’s sake for your generation and the ones coming after.
- A changed better youth would be a fitting tribute to the dignity and sacrifices of June 16, 1976
