The 1976 youth deserve the 21 gun salute

Today is National Youth Day. We remember the June 16 1976 generation of youth who stood up and challenged the apartheid government?s policy to make Afrikaans the medium of instruction in schools. The students were shot at by the police and some were detained.

This started an era of student and youth activism that culminated in the 1980?s unrest in black townships and the crisis in the culture of learning and teaching as the student took the battle against apartheid to the streets. The aim was ?to make the country ungovernable? and ensure that freedom was achieved at all costs even if it meant their education had to suffer. Their motto was  ?liberation first and education later.?

The 1976 youth were an inspiration to youth and students to be militant and sacrifice for the liberation of South Africa. Their are national heroes and heroines who deserve our deepest respect. We owe them a lifetime of nation building and service to our country. All of them deserve the highset honour in the land and the 21 gun salute every year on 16 June.