Remembering the June 16 Uprisings: A Call to Action for Today's Youth

Fifty years after Soweto, we’re still arguing about the name of the day meant to honour those kids – and that’s a national disgrace, bru. While some are tackling the Two Oceans Marathon or firing up the braai, let's be real: we’re letting the memory of June 16th fade faster than a Takealot delivery during load shedding. It’s a kak state of affairs, and it's time we ask ourselves: are we even worthy of the freedom those students fought – and *died* – for? ## From Revolt to Road Trip: How We Lost the Plot Seriously, how did we get here? The original spirit of the uprising feels miles away when you see what June 16th has become. Instead of solemn remembrance, it’s often just another public holiday for a jol. Sandile Ngidi nails it: the Government of National Unity, back in 1994, messed up big time when they branded it “National Youth Day.” It sounds…fluffy. Like a Dis-Chem sale, not a revolution. And because the ANC didn’t fix this travesty after 1996, we’re stuck with a day that’s “fast becoming a fuzzy memory, a minor altercation whose substantive details are better left buried if not ridiculed.” Jislaaik. That’s a harsh truth, but it’s a truth nonetheless. It’s like we're deliberately trying to forget. ## The Class of '76: Kids Who Looked Death in the Face Let’s not romanticize this, boet. Those kids weren’t playing games. They weren't debating the merits of the latest iPhone. They were facing down the full force of the apartheid regime because of the Bantu Education Act – a system *literally intended* to keep them “make peace with their man-made lowly station in life,” as journalist Harry Mashabela put it. He was "moved to the marrow" by their courage. Think about that. Thousands of schoolchildren, risking everything, standing up to a brutal system. It wasn’t a protest; it was a revolt. And it wasn't just happening in Soweto; it ignited a countrywide rebellion. ## Rise '76: The Play That's Waking People Up Thankfully, some people are trying to keep the flame alive. The Baxter Theatre in Cape Town and the Market Theatre in Johannesburg have teamed up to commission Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni to tell the 1976 story through a docu-drama-type stage play called *Rise '76*. It's not just about the past either; it links the struggle to contemporary issues like #FeesMustFall. The play, which ran successfully in Cape Town, opened at the Market Theatre this week and will run until June 28th. It’s a good sign that both theatres *first opened in 1976* – a nice bit of symbolism, hey? ## Why 'National Youth Day' is a Bit of a Kak Idea Look, “National Youth Day” just doesn’t cut it. It dilutes the historical weight. It feels…insulting. Ngidi’s right to call it a “travesty.” It's like renaming Freedom Day “National Picnic Day.” The original purpose – honouring the sacrifice of those students – gets lost in the noise. It becomes just another day off, another excuse for a braai and some Castle Lite. We need a name that reflects the gravity of what happened on June 16th, not something that sounds like a school assembly. ## More Than Just Songs & Stories: The Artists Keeping the Flame Alive The memory of June 16th isn’t just kept alive by plays and protests, though. It lives on in the music. Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Sipho Gumede’s *Isililo*, Bheki Khoza’s *Hlangabezan' Abafana*, Jonas Gwangwa’s *Diphororo* – these aren’t just songs; they’re sonic testaments to a time of struggle and resilience. They remind us how long we've survived, even through what felt like our darkest hours. These artists, alongside writers like Miriam Tlali and Sipho Sepamla, are vital memory keepers. ## So, What's the Plan? Why This Matters to *You* (Yes, You) This isn’t just about history books and theatre productions. It’s about *now*. Ngidi asks a crucial question: “why, despite South Africa’s relatively stable democracy, our propensity for fire and rage continues to this day?” We’re still grappling with deep social and political scars. We still have a long way to go to achieve true equality and justice. Ignoring the lessons of June 16th won’t make those problems disappear. It'll just let them fester. It's time to stop treating this day like a long weekend and start treating it like a call to action. ## The Burden of Storytelling: A New Generation's Responsibility That’s where artists like Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni come in. She understands the “burden” of being a black South African storyteller in a society still wrestling with its past. And she’s tackling that burden with a powerful message: “to be joyful is a radical act today.” She’s weaponizing joy, refusing to let the narrative be defined solely by suffering. She’s building on the legacy of her predecessors, creating art that’s both politically engaged and deeply personal. She’s a 2021 recipient of the Canadian-South African (CASA) Playwriting Award, which is befok impressive. Look, we can’t change the past, but we can learn from it. We can honour the sacrifices of those students by actively working towards a more just and equitable future. We can make sure that June 16th isn’t just another braai day, but a day of remembrance, reflection, and renewed commitment. The original naming of June 16th as 'National Youth Day' was a mistake, and we need to acknowledge that. It's time to reclaim the day and give it the weight and significance it deserves. But are we, as a nation, willing to do the work? Or will we continue to let the memory of Soweto fade into obscurity while we queue for biltong at Checkers? And if we *are* serious about remembering, what other forgotten stories from our past need to be unearthed and retold? Click here to find out.