South Africa's youth nowadays face a multitude of challenges unlike the generation that led the 1976 uprisings, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said on Saturday.
“While the 1976 generation had a common enemy in the evil apartheid system, today’s generation is faced with a totally different type of enemy,” she said at a Youth Day rally in Soweto.
“Their challenges range from HIV and Aids, drugs and substance abuse, moral decay, to hunger and joblessness.”
Mokonyane said the nature of the challenges should galvanise the youth to work as a united force like the 1976 generation.
“For this to happen young people must participate in structures and organisations that have their interests at heart.”
The 1976 Soweto uprising was a series of high school student-led protests. Learners from various schools in Soweto protested in the streets against the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium in schools. Around 20,000 students took part in the protest, and 176 people were killed.
Mokonyane said that as part of Youth Month celebrations, her government would roll out a drugs treatment campaign.
She said the Gauteng province would establish a youth township aimed at “promoting entrepreneurial initiatives and job creation” for the youth. – Sapa