Every year June 16 in South Africa celebrates Youth Day which honours and pays tribute to the memory of the brave school children who lost their lives protesting against laws that made Afrikaans compulsory in Black townships schools throughout the country.
Nomkhuleko Thutshini from the Communications Department went out to the institution to hear the views of DUT students on the significance of Youth Day for them.
Abongile Yiba, Third Year Food and Nutrition Consumer Sciences
“Youth day for me is a time to celebrate what the youth of 1976 did for us (students) because they fought for our rights as students, as we are now able to express our views.”
Shaylin Naidoo, Second Year Mechanical Engineering
“For me it is significant to commemorate the sacrifice made by those students who died for our education, mainly because we are now benefiting academically for what they did. I am thankful for that because if it wasn’t for the youth of 1976 that had given their lives we would not be where we are today as a democratic country.”
Mbuso Magubane, Second Year Business Information and Management
“Youth day for me is the day where we should be commemorating the Soweto uprising and recognise the role of the youth in the liberation of South Africa from the Apartheid regime. Young people should also go out to the functions that are held in their communities on 16 June to show that they appreciate what the youth of 1976 did for us.”
Simone Courtney Myasevan, First Year Human Resources Management
“One of the key things that I took from the youth of 1976 massacre is that decisions should be made in the best interest of all South Africans. We should embrace and encourage to strive for a meaningful change which is through the actions that had occurred on June 16, 1976.”
Sabelo Kunene, Second Year Town Planning
“June 16 is about remembering and showing appreciation to the children who lost their lives during the struggle. We are where we are as a country because of them. I think it will be better if as the youth we continue where they had left off, by uniting and grooming each other for us to have better lives and to show the youth of 1976 that their lives were not lost for nothing.”
Nolwazi Mfeka, First Year Financial Accounting
“Youth day is the day where we celebrate the lives of people who were fighting to banish the Bantu Education system. I do celebrate this day by going to the events that are held here in Durban or on campus on this day, and I also wear a uniform to show respect and appreciation for those that died while they were in school.”
