Category: English

Marking 50 years since the Soweto uprising of 16 June 1976, this year’s Youth Day commemorations coincide with other major milestones of freedom, underscoring that South Africa’s democracy was built across generations.

“In addition to the 50th anniversary of the Soweto uprising, we also mark 70 years since the Women’s March of 1956 and 30 years since the adoption of our democratic Constitution in 1996. Together these milestones remind us that freedom was built across generations,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday in Johannesburg.

The youth of 1976 fought against exclusion; today, South Africa is confronting unemployment, poverty and inequality — challenges the President likened to the broader struggle against the oppressive apartheid regime, in which all generations played a role in the fight for freedom.

“Theirs was the struggle to enter the classroom. Ours is the struggle to ensure that what begins in the classroom does not end in the unemployment queue.

“Just as they refused the limits imposed upon them, we too must refuse a future of diminished possibilities. Let us build a South Africa where every young person can realise their potential. 

“Let us build a South Africa in which freedom lives in every generation. So let us honour them not in words alone, but in deeds,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa reminded South Africans that these milestones of freedom were achieved by women who resisted pass laws, by young people who rose up against Bantu Education, and by a Constitution that reflects the views and aspirations of all South Africans.

“The young people of 1976 remind us that freedom is not protected by memory alone. It is protected by active citizenship, by organisation, by discipline, by service and by responsibility. As we look to the future, young people must be at the centre of democratic participation,” the President said.

Challenging young people on their role in today’s democracy, President Ramaphosa asked whether they dared to change South Africa.

“The youth of 1976 answered that question. On the 16th of June the children of Soweto walked out of their classrooms and into history. They were told they could not learn in their own language, in their own country, on equal terms. They refused that limit. And many of them paid for that refusal with their lives,” the President said.

He emphasised that the young people of 1976 did not stand alone.

They were supported by parents, teachers, health workers, religious leaders and community structures.

“The youth of 1976 were not the last generation to organise for change. We remember young freedom fighters such as Solomon Mahlangu, the Cradock Four and Nokuthula Simelane, and the youth and student formations that helped make apartheid ungovernable.

“In the democratic era, that same spirit continued through the Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall movements. Because of these generations of struggle, South Africa has changed fundamentally,” the President said.

The Constitution of 1996 guarantees the right to basic education.

“Through legislation such as the South African Schools Act and the Higher Education Act, we dismantled the legal architecture of apartheid education and began building a system founded on equality, access and redress,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said today’s generation has tools that the youth of 1976 did not have.

“They have technology, information and platforms that can connect communities, expose injustice and build enterprises. Technology must be matched by purpose, organisation and commitment to the common good.

“As the country prepares for the next local government elections, we must place young people at the centre of building municipalities that work,” the President said.

He encouraged young people to register to vote, cast their ballots, engage with municipalities and hold public representatives accountable.

“Democracy is not only what happens in Parliament and council chambers. It is also built in schools, on campuses, in workplaces, in churches, on sports fields, in community halls, on streets, and in homes.

“Let us honour the youth of 1976 not only by remembering their courage, but by continuing the work for which they sacrificed so much. Let us build a South Africa in which freedom lives in every generation,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said the youthfulness of South Africa’s population gives the country a dynamism, innovativeness and potential productivity that few other countries outside the continent can match.

“This generation must take its place in every part of our national life: in the economy, in public institutions, in communities, in innovation, in culture and in the work of building our democracy,” the President said. –SAnews.gov.za

Three years ago, Kagiso Komane (32) shared how a bursary from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) helped him overcome financial hardship and realise his dream of obtaining a Master’s degree in Applied Sciences.

Today, the former bursary beneficiary, who is now a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), is paying that opportunity forward by helping other young South Africans access education through his newly established non-profit organisation, Edukheshin For All.

Born and raised in Kgobokwane, outside Dennilton in Limpopo, Komane says the support he received through the department changed the trajectory of his life and inspired him to create opportunities for others.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation planted a seed in me, and I have gone the extra mile to become a full tree, bearing fresh fruit,” said Komane.

READ | Department bursary helps Masters graduate achieve his goals

Founded in 2026, Edukheshin For All aims to remove financial and informational barriers that prevent young people from accessing quality education. The organisation assists learners with study applications, provides information on bursaries and funding opportunities, and offers mentorship and essential support services aimed at empowering young people to pursue their academic aspirations.

“My friends and I co-founded this organisation because we recognised that many young people continue to face the same barriers to education and opportunity that we experienced ourselves.

“Edukheshin For All was born from our shared experiences, and our goal is to ensure that no young person has to navigate their educational journey alone while pursuing their dreams,” he said.

Komane’s journey is a testament to perseverance. After completing matric at Ramatshagala High School in 2011, with below-average Mathematics and Science results, he spent two years upgrading his marks before qualifying to study Analytical Chemistry at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

His turning point came in 2019 when he was awarded a comprehensive DWS bursary, which funded both his B-Tech and Master’s qualifications. The bursary covered tuition fees, accommodation, meals in line with university guidelines, books, stationery and a monthly stipend.

Changing lives 

Reflecting on the opportunity, Komane says the bursary did more than fund his studies.

“The bursary transformed my life completely. It helped me overcome financial challenges and allowed me to focus on my studies. More importantly, it taught me the value of using opportunities responsibly and creating opportunities for others.”

Since its official launch at a gala dinner on 1 May 2026, Edukheshin For All has already begun making a meaningful impact in communities. The organisation has assisted learners with educational applications and distributed school shoes and sanitary towels to support vulnerable learners.

Youth Month

As part of Youth Month commemorations, the organisation will host a Career Expo on 26 June 2026, at Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane. The event will bring together higher education institutions, government stakeholders and private sector organisations to provide learners and young people with information on study opportunities, bursaries, career pathways and skills development programmes.

Komane says the organisation’s long-term vision is to make education accessible, aspirational and empowering for all young people.

“We want education to be seen as a pathway to dignity, confidence and limitless possibilities. Young people have enormous potential, but they need access to opportunities and guidance to realise it.”
This year South Africa commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, a defining moment in South Africa’s liberation struggle.

Paying it forward

When asked whether Edukheshin For All is his way of paying forward the support he received from the department, Komane answered without hesitation.

“Absolutely. The organisation is inspired by the values of the DWS Learning Academy. Both are committed to creating opportunities for young people and developing future leaders. Funding is important, but mentorship and support are equally critical. I am a product of both,” he said.

The Department’s Learning Academy was established in 2007 to address scarce and critical skills in the water and sanitation sector through bursaries in science, engineering and related disciplines. Beyond funding studies, the programme provides graduates with workplace exposure and development opportunities to prepare them for professional registration and careers in the sector.

Komane’s story demonstrates the far-reaching impact of investing in young people. From a bursary recipient determined to overcome adversity to a PhD candidate and community leader creating opportunities for others, he embodies the department’s vision of developing skilled professionals who contribute meaningfully to society, and the country’s development.

His message to young people is simple: “When an opportunity comes your way, grab it with both hands. Use it not only to change your own life, but to create opportunities for those who will come after you.” – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed profound sadness at the passing of cultural activist, global jazz icon and member of the Order of Ikhamanga, Abdullah Ibrahim.

“Our nation mourns the passing of an international icon and global citizen whose profound creations honoured the South Africa that shaped his political commitment and musical brilliance,” the President said on Monday in a statement.

Ibrahim passed away at the age of 91, concluding a life in music that spanned jazz genres and geographies.

As a pianist, composer, arranger and mentor, Ibrahim campaigned against apartheid. 

He drew audiences to his carefully curated performances, which showcased both his accomplishment as a soloist and his collaborations with established and emerging talent.

His music also reflected his spirituality and contemplative practice of martial arts.

In 2009, he was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts, his success in placing South African music on the international map, and his lifelong fight against racism and apartheid.

“As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Youth Uprising, the passing of Abdullah Ibrahim reminds us of the then illegal benefit concert he organised in support of the liberation movement following the Uprising, as a demonstration of his commitment to our struggle.

“We give thanks for the many decades of his life that he devoted to his personal passion which he shared with humanity through his recordings and his appearances in clubs and concert halls throughout the globe.

“He has enriched our lives with his musical gifts and his involvement in making the world a better place. May his soul rest in peace,” the President said.

He offered his deepest condolences to Ibrahim’s children, pianist Tsakwe and hip-hop artist Jean Grae.

Their mother, Sathima Bea Benjamin, a performer and recording artist in her own right, passed away in 2013, nine years after she received the Order of Ikhamanga.

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile said South Africa had lost a giant whose music transcended entertainment and became a powerful instrument of consciousness, resistance and hope.

“Ibrahim did not merely play jazz; he gave sound to the aspirations of oppressed people and helped the world hear the pain, resilience and dignity of South Africans during the darkest years of apartheid.

“Through Mannenberg, he reminded the world that music can be a weapon against injustice and a beacon of hope for those yearning for freedom. His melodies carried the spirit of a people who refused to surrender their humanity,” Maile said.

The MEC added that South Africa’s rich jazz heritage owes much to Ibrahim’s pioneering work, which elevated South African jazz onto the global stage while remaining deeply rooted in the rhythms, traditions and stories of home.

He noted the transformative role jazz played in shaping township culture and intellectual life in communities such as Alexandra, Sophiatown and Soweto.

“Jazz clubs, community halls and township gatherings became spaces where ideas flourished, identities were affirmed, and consciousness was raised. 

“Jazz nurtured creativity, encouraged critical thought and provided communities with a sense of pride and belonging. Ibrahim stood at the centre of that cultural awakening, inspiring generations of artists, thinkers and ordinary citizens,” Maile said. –SAnews.gov.za

As South Africa marks the Golden Jubilee of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality remains committed to honouring the legacy of the young people who fought for freedom by investing in programmes that create pathways for growth, participation and success for today’s generation.

The municipality has joined the nation in commemorating Youth Month and the 50th anniversary of the historic June 16 uprising through a range of programmes aimed at empowering young people, promoting social inclusion and creating opportunities for their development.

Celebrated under the theme: “RESET@50 – The Future Calls” with the slogan “Our National Commitment to the Future, for Freedom Lives in Every Generation,” this year’s commemoration pays tribute to the courageous youth of 1976 whose sacrifices helped shape South Africa’s democratic future. 

It also serves as a call to action to address the challenges facing today’s youth through meaningful opportunities, skills development, economic participation and active citizenship.

A key highlight of the Municipality’s Youth Month programme is the Mayoral Cup, one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s flagship youth development initiatives, which has attracted more than 7 000 participants from communities across the metro.

The tournament provides a platform for talent identification, social cohesion, healthy lifestyles, leadership development and positive youth engagement, while showcasing the immense talent, resilience and potential of young people across Nelson Mandela Bay.

Launched in May 2026, the tournament continues to demonstrate the transformative power of sport as a vehicle for empowerment, social development and community building.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, has expressed her excitement at the high standard of games and the successful organisation of the Mayoral Cup.

“We are excited to see young people spread across Nelson Mandela Bay showcasing their talent. We continue to commit to this project because we know that a child in sport is a child kept away from crime and social ills.

“The current knockout stage is a critical phase leading towards the finals, which will be held as part of the Youth Month celebrations on 16 June 2026,” Lobishe said.

The tournament is being implemented through a partnership between the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and the Nelson Mandela Bay Sport Confederation, reflecting a shared commitment to youth development through sport.

The Mayoral Cup finals, scheduled for Youth Day on 16 June 2026, will form part of the municipality’s broader Youth Month commemorative programme and serve as a celebration of youth excellence, determination and achievement.

The participating federations in the 2025/2026 Mayoral Cup include:
•    SAFA Nelson Mandela Bay
•    Nelson Mandela Bay Netball Eastern Province Rugby
•    Nelson Mandela Bay Boxing
•    Nelson Mandela Bay Basketball
•    Nelson Mandela Bay Volleyball
•    Mandela Bay Sport for the Physically Disabled
•    Nelson Mandela Bay Sport Confederation

As the country reflects on the sacrifices of the youth of 1976, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality continues to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that the ideals for which they fought are realised through tangible opportunities for today’s generation.

Through initiatives such as the Mayoral Cup, the municipality is investing in a future where young people are empowered, included and equipped with the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to contribute meaningfully to the social and economic development of Nelson Mandela Bay and South Africa as a whole. – SAnews.gov.za