Lest We Forget: Remember June 16
By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
June 16, 1976 was a turning point in the Freedom Struggle in South Africa, as developments that occurred since that fateful day confirm that much.
Clearly, South Africa was to change forever. The great struggle would now be in the hands of the ‘Mighty Youth’ of South Africa.
The 1980s were characterised by mass students and youth struggles. This was to become undoubtedly the most violent decade in the history of South Africa.
These struggles continued until the death of the apartheid regime in 1994 that paved the way for a democratically elected black government.
Of particular importance during the Freedom Struggle was the contribution made by young people at a time when liberation movements inside South Africa were banned and operated underground.
The students of 1976 decided that they could not participate and submit to destruction of their country and future.
Hence, they took a stand and decided to do something about the brutality of an illegitimate apartheid regime, which by the way had earlier been declared “a crime against humanity” by the United Nations.
Fast-forward to today, as the country celebrates Youth Month in June, it is important to reflect on the road travelled.
The uprising
The Soweto Uprising, also known as June 16, was a series of protests led by high school students in South Africa that began on the morning of June 16, 1976.
Students from numerous Sowetan schools began to protest in the streets of Soweto in response to the introduction of Afrikaans, as the medium of instruction in local schools.
Fundamentally, the protest was headed by the National Students Representative Council (NSRC) with Tsietsi Mashinini leading the charge.
After going into exile, the group became known as the Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC).
Although they are still different accounts as to what exactly happened prior, during and after June 16, 1976, the most common story is that an estimated 20 000 students took part in the protests.
The number of people who died is usually given as 176 on June 16, and later with estimates of up to 700 by the end of 1976.
The June 16, 1976, uprising which again, began in Soweto and spread countrywide, on a meaningful scale, changed the socio-political landscape in South Africa.
While the events that triggered the uprising can be traced to policies of the apartheid government that resulted in the introduction of the Bantu Education Act in 1953, it was when the Afrikaans language, alongside English, was made compulsory as a medium of instruction in schools in 1974 that black students began mobilising themselves.
The rise of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) and the formation of South African Students Organisation (SASO) raised the political consciousness of many students while others joined the wave of anti-apartheid sentiments within the student community.
On June 16, 1976, thousands of students mobilised by the SSRC, which had been collaborating with the structures like  the South African Students Movement’s Action Committee supported by the BCM, marched peacefully to demonstrate and protest against the government’s unjust directives.
The march was meant to culminate in a rally in Orlando Stadium. However, while the students were heading for their destination, they were met by heavily armed police, who fired teargas and later live ammunition on them.
This resulted in a widespread revolt that turned into an uprising against the government.
While the uprising began in Soweto, it soon spread across the country and carried on until the following year.
The aftermath of the events of June 16, 1976, had dire consequences for the apartheid government, as images of the police firing on peacefully demonstrating students led to international revulsion against South Africa with its evilness firmly exposed.
Meanwhile, the weakened and exiled liberation movements received new recruits fleeing political persecution at home. In the process, the struggle against apartheid was energised and revived.
A number of the police officeres, who carried out the shootings during the Soweto Uprisings, later committed suicide as a result of their acts.
Other accounts reveal that other liberations movements like the ANC and PAC also claim their involvement in the activities leading up to June 16.
For example, according to the PAC leadership, many of their activists were arrested for their involvement in June 16, and notably Zephania Mothopeng was incarcerated for his participation on June 16.
It would seem there were many competing forces that were seeking to own and direct June 16 and its legacy.
Youth empowerment
As part of empowering young people the South African government has established numerous programmes for the youth.
Although it can be argued that this falls far short of what is needed, as the millions of the country’s youth still find it hard to be part of the mainstream economy, nevertheless, the country can at least point at the strides made to remedy the situation.
But clearly a long road lies ahead, as many youths find themselves on the streets.
Furthermore, some serious questions need to be asked, like: Where are the activists of June 16, 1976, today?
Why are they so invisible in the every day life of South Africa? And if they are doing great work, what are they doing?
Why are they not seen in the forefront of telling the stories of their generation? Why do they say about the current state of education, youth and the country generally?
The June 16 Foundation, set up after the massacre, was tasked with the identification of the youth killed, the exact number of those killed and injured including those who disappeared.
Almost 40 years later, it seems there has been no clarity. Why?
These are some of the many unanswered questions on June 16, 1976, and beyond.
We must all contribute to getting to the truth. Otherwise, we risk losing more youths to crime and other societal ills.
And if we forget where we came from, we will lose our path to a prosperous future.
June 16, 2016 marks 40 years since the June 16, 1976, uprisings – 61 years since the adoption of the Freedom Charter and  22 years since South Africa attained freedom.
Are we still committed to the ideals of the students of 1976?
June 16, is now a public holiday, Youth Day, in South Africa, in remembrance of the events of 1976.
Are we doing the best we can not to forget the lessons of this great generation?
Lest we forget.