Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
16 June 2025

📷 “They used stones, now use your rights” – Youth Day echoes urgent calls for economic empowerment and meaningful participation in SA.

As South Africa marks Youth Day, a somber reflection returns to the brave youth of 1976 whose defiance against apartheid’s oppressive education policies altered the nation’s trajectory. Speaking on this year’s theme, “Skills for the Changing World: Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation,” Teachers’ Union representative Nomusa Cembi urged the country not to forget the “bravery and vision” that defined the Soweto Uprising.

“It is very important not to forget what the youth did,” said Cembi, reminding us of the sacrifice that “gave impetus to the struggle for liberation.” Initially sparked by the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, the 1976 student protests expanded into a broader rejection of systemic oppression. “They understood that being taught in Afrikaans would diminish their chances to succeed in the world,” she explained.

But nearly five decades later, many young South Africans remain disillusioned. “They feel they are unemployed, unheard, and victims of crime and gender-based violence,” Cembi observed, highlighting a growing frustration. Despite democratic advances and initiatives like NSFAS, many graduates face bleak job prospects. “They sit with degrees that do not match what industry is looking for,” she said.

Cembi emphasized that youth must not grow despondent. “Just like the youth of 1976 used stones to fight bullets, today’s youth must use the Constitution, which guarantees the right to education and work.”

She stressed that the theme of Youth Month must move beyond lip service. “It shouldn’t be a slogan, but a call to action.” Government and the private sector must invest in “quality education, vocational training, and youth entrepreneurship,” she urged.

Drawing links between this year’s theme and SATU’s 10th Congress, Cembi underscored the need to focus on “foundational learning and functional skills” to achieve inclusive economic growth. “We are building the futures of these children. Let us prepare them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” she stated.

In closing, Cembi made a heartfelt appeal: “The youth are not people who cannot think. They are critical to the future of this country. Let’s open the doors and prepare them to lead it.”

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Nomusa Cembi.