By Mashamba Media
news@alexreporter.co.za
RISE Mzansi national leader, Songezo Zibi MP, said that his party was determined to fight for and represent young people in South Africa.
He remarked this during a wreath laying ceremony at the Hector Pieterson Memorial to commemorate the 16 June 1976 uprising.
Zibi was accompanied by national
chairperson, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa MPL; chief organiser, Makashule Gana MP; Youth and
Student Chapters Convenor, Lawrence Manaka ,amongst others.
“We gather here 48-years after children in school uniform took to the streets because of denied choices and opportunities.
“Tragically, many of the struggles faced by the youth of 1976 still continue today. They are still denied choices and opportunities,” said Zibi.
Zibi said young people were still without work and opportunities. He said young people go to bed hungry.
“Young people are far too often subjected to substandard levels of teaching under poor conditions, with some having to navigate long distances and rivers to access this poor education.
“Young people face unattended mental health issues and an uncertain future due to the climate crisis. We are not here to celebrate ‘Youth Day’, we are to commemorate the 16 June 1976 uprising and take stock of how far we have come, and how much further we still need to go, so that those who lost their youth to the struggle or who lost their lives fighting for the ambitions of young people know that RISE Mzansi will pick up where they left off.”
