The youth ofSouth Africahave throughout history played a significant role in changing the course of the country’s contemporary history. Names such asHector PietersonandTsietsi Mashinini have become synonymous with that with the sacrifices made by ‘the class of ’76.
The image shot by photographer Sam Nzima, of a running Antoinette Sithole (Hector Peterson’s sister), and Mbuyisa Makhubo carrying the fatally wounded Hector Peterson towards Phefeni Clinic, has itself become a powerful visual narrative capturing the sacrifices made on June 16, 1976 and adding to the broad narrative of South Africa’s state of emergency at that time. Township schools across the country were awakening politically and developing well-articulated demands on educational issues. Researcher at the South African Democracy Education Trust, Sifiso Ndovu, notes that structural changes in the economy and society, including political changes brought about by apartheid as well as the emergence of subcultures inSoweto’s secondary schools in the 1970’s gave prominence to a militant and revolutionary rhetoric underpinning various liberation movements at the time. The introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction at selected schools which further highlighted the Afrikaner nationalist ideology, galvanised a fair amount of young people into student political activism. The National Party introduced the Bantu Education Act in 1953. Under the Act, a newly formed Black Education Department was to be integrated into the Department of Native Affairs under Dr Hendrik F. Verwoerd. By 1954 Bantu Education had been introduced in black schools. Prior to that, Black people who went to school had largely relied on missionary school education, but only for a few had the privilege. Bantu Education in general allowed more Black children access to school inSoweto, but it was inferior in standard. Schools in the townships were ill-equipped with no facilities such as science laboratories, libraries and sports fields. The reality was that government was spending far more on White education than on Black education; R644 was spent annually for each White student, while only R42 was budgeted for a Black school child. Black schools were overcrowded thus made learning and teaching conditions highly unfavourable.
The NYDA is the lead organisation spear-heading government’s youth month 2012 initiatives
The National Youth Development Agencylaunched Youth Month on 29 May 2012. The NYDA, as the custodian of youth development inSouth Africa, is the lead organisation spear-heading government’s youth month 2012 initiatives. 2012 marks the third anniversary of the youth body and the 36th anniversary of theSowetostudent uprisings. The main youth month event is Youth Day on 16 June 2012. The theme is”working together we can do more to build infrastructure and fight youth unemployment, poverty and inequality”.The event will be held inPort Elizabeth,Eastern Cape, at the Wolfson Stadium. President Jacob Zuma is expected to deliver the keynote address. Employment, health, education, corruption and crime as well as rural development are the government ofSouth Africa’s key national priorities. Youth unemployment inSouth Africahas increasingly come under the spotlight as an urgent social, economic challenge, while some even argue it to be a “ticking political time bomb”. If the country is to stabilise its labour force, it will have to urgently address the issue of youth unemployment. Youth unemployment is a worldwide phenomenon butSouth Africareportedly has one of the highest rates. Skills shortage also poses a serious threat to the country’s long-term economic growth potential. Government’s responses include ‘improving support to small and medium enterprises, expanding opportunities in the Expanded Public Works Programme, the Community Work Programme, National Rural Youth Service Corps, the national youth service programme and others.Government departments have also committed to creating work opportunities for young people in various ways.
– By SABC News Research
