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Honouring and celebrating the brave youths of 1976

THE nation, particularly the youth, are ready to celebrate and commemorate the achievements of the youth of 1976.

Celebrations have been put together to commemorate Youth Day, starting today in Newtown, Johannesburg. Politburo Sessions will be led by reggae band Tidal Waves.

Leading figures from the world of art, politics and business are expected to converge on the venue. Dressed in school uniforms they will look more like 16-year-old schoolchildren than professional adults.

The uniforms are part of the commemoration of the brave acts of pupils who took on the apartheid government in 1976.The event will give people an opportunity to meet old school friends.

The commemoration was organised by the Soweto-based social networking club Life@40'n Beyond. The celebration will start with a symbolic walk-march at 7.30am from Regina Mundi Church in Soweto to Avalon Cemetery, where there will be an unveiling of a tombstone in honour of the 1976 student leaders Tsietsi Mashinini and Khotso Seatlholo.

Then celebrations will take place at Mashinini's Place at 4288 Zone 4, Pimville. There will be traditional dancers and the Bernice Boikanyo Trio jazz band. DJ Ziduma-Mo will also be there. Food will be provided.

l The African Soul Sisters, namely Wanda Baloyi, Nombulelo Maqetuka, Gugu Shezi and Nokukhanya Dlamini, are performing at the Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City tomorrow and on Friday. The show, with a Youth Day theme, will start at around 7pm, and promises to rock.

l Visual artist Vumelani Sibeko will stage a show tomorrow to remind people of the history and painful experience of slavery.

Sibeko's march, at 9am, will start at the Drill Hall, corner Twist and Plein streets. He will have shackles on his feet, hands, around the waist and neck and pull a heavy iron ball.

He will walk to Bree taxi rank and take a taxi to the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto to pay his respects to fallen youth heroes. His journey will end at Orlando Stadium at 1pm.

  • A showcase of Italian tradition, style and innovation, the second L'Italia in Piazza, at the Montecasino Outdoor Piazza from tomorrow to June 19, will celebrate the opportunities arising from Italian-South African cultural exchange.

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