Challenging injustice on South African Youth Day

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GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Youth Day was celebrated in Graaff-Reinet on Wednesday 16 June to recognise the role the youth of South Africa played in the eventual liberation of the country.

The day started with a memorial sermon at the fallen Heroes and Heroines Monument at Goedhal's Square where a bishop of the Methodist Church in Southern Africa and the Camdeboo Synod, Bishop Louis Williams, delivered a sermon of remembrance.

He read a bible verse from Deuteronomy 32:7 that says: "Remember the old ways, go and ask from your fathers, they will tell you, go and ask from your elders, they will show you."

The Youth Development Forum then hosted a "Let's talk" engagement. It was hosted by Zamuxolo Matha, who convened the discussion which revolved around issues affecting the youth in Graaff-Reinet and how to change the current crisis of youth unemployment as documented by Neco Bokwe and Thabiso Oliphant.

The youth present appreciated the engagement and urged the organisers for more of these programmes. They also said government departments should also be invited to be present so that solutions can be discussed and questions are answered.

Guest speakers and members of the Youth Development Forum in discussion during Youth Day celebrations. From left: Bishop Louis Williams, Mbulelo Tini, Zuko Kedamile, Tsepo Sobukwe and Zamuxolo Matha.

Here is what some of the youth had to say

Mbulelo Tini - "Leaders must invest in the youth through employment and cooperate with the private sector and locals to prioritise in terms of business opportunities."

Anele Ngoyo - "Business empowerment is of vital importance and that the youth must have a voice.

Zuko Kedamile - "Youth skills development should be a priority.

Tsepo Sobukwe - "Where are the leaders that we need? Let's create opportunities for our youth to mitigate the social ills. The youth should step into radical action to create their own destiny and future."

Photo gallery: Youth Day celebrated in Graaff-Reinet

Young and old then entertained the crowd with soccer matches at the Masizakhe Stadium. Old members of different teams made up two teams - the Legends A and B teams. "It was such great fun to see the legends playing," said one of the players, Bennet "Patyutyu" Jack.

Ricardo Melapi (left) from Keagan Cosmos and Luntu Mafolo from Blue Amampondo in a battle for control of the ball.