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Stop destroying public property‚ youth told

Students set fires at Fort Hare Alice campus. Picture Credit: Phumza Sokana
Students set fires at Fort Hare Alice campus. Picture Credit: Phumza Sokana

A former teacher during the 1976 youth uprising has urged youth to stop destroying public property.

Ohara Diseko‚ a former teacher at Orlando High School during the uprising‚ was addressing a June 16 memorial lecture hosted by the Gauteng Provincial Government in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

She called on young people to protect their right to learn‚ saying that June 16 was not an event but a turning point for the country.

Also read: Girl child, emulate young women of 1976

“During these times we learned under difficult conditions under apartheid‚ things have changed for you. You owe it to those who lost their lives so that you can enjoy this freedom today‚” Diseko said.

She also urged young people to move away from expecting government to do everything for them but instead‚ use the opportunities that government continued to provide for youth.

Also speaking at the memorial function‚ Gauteng Premier David Makhura said every generation must discover its own mission and define its own path.

Also read: R460 million price tag for student protests

“You can’t copy what the youth of 1976 did because their challenges were different from your challenges today. Youth is not a permanent state of being‚ young people face many challenges today but there are many opportunities too‚” said Makhura.

 

 

 

 

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