Celebrating and Commemorating Youth Day

June 16 Youth day (1976)
HISTORY MADE OVER A DAY
June 16 is not just another commemorated day in South African history. It is a day that led to the existence of the country’s freedom day. Looking at the country’s historical days, it comes as common sense to say, we celebrate those days because of the particular events that occurred and the citizens behind these events. Let’s put in the picture a global event or day such as Christmas Day. If common sense really is common, how come this day is celebrated by all, yet differently? Questioning such sense can take forever.
My point in this is, because of globalisation, ignorance, different ways of commemorating a historical day, and uncommon common sense, tomorrow as it is ‘Youth Day’ some will be commemorating change, usage of indigenous languages and lost lives, while some celebrate just another holiday in the calendar.
The NYDA (National Youth Development Agency) has called on the nation to join them in commemorating the day, at the Orlando Stadium on the ‘crying grounds of Soweto’. If the national ruling party, ANC, is behind a certain event or celebration, don’t even ever attempt to ask whose going to attend, especially public events as such. This is inconsideration of the ANC being founders/establishers of this organising agency. So attendance to this event is unquestionable, because it has to do with power.
Power in our democratic society has been characterised by recourses. The one followed/supported by many, is the one who can provide for the whole lot, and what he has to say does not really matter. In that way the majority can easily be led falsely. That leaves our society exposed and vulnerable to corruption and bad decision making, and that’s the game of power.
Not to let focus, on the key issue, drift away. I have come to note, from invitations and advertisement of the NYDA event, that the event is bound to be a celebration rather than commemoration of the ‘youth day’. Mind you, that these are two different terms having different meanings. How do we celebrate mourned blood that was shared in pain?
The Azanian Youth Organisation (AZAYO) raised a concern of this nature on Monday. They referred to the ‘commemoration’ as a ‘party’ while saying the NYDA is dragging a historic event through the mud, and they edged fellow youth not to attend the planned event. These are questions I have to ask: Is the historic truth known to our youth, apart from the influence of power; do we live to cherish what our desist heroes died for; can we relate our modern struggle to that of the past as we celebrate or commemorate.
After having answered these questions we shall know whether to commemorate or celebrate. While thinking about this, it is important not to forget that tomorrow’s commemoration artist line-up at the Soweto stadium, is that which will resolve into a day light bash. The atmosphere prior to the event is everything close to a ‘party’ and nothing close to what defines a commemoration. The many young people who will attend will be inspired by the expected level of entertainment and also by the atmosphere, to get drunk and to use drugs. More lives destroyed are the outcome of parties.
Now in your mind predict the future of our country looking at imputes by government. Could this be our history going down the drain or ‘through the mud’? I personally cannot answer that! I mean... I even failed to answer to the NYDA invitation.

Editor Creo Nthali

Make sure to see ‘June 16 History check’ tomorrow analysis of the event on Friday.

Bafana Bafana/Boys Boys

It's high time our South African football team graduates, how long are we to have them as Boys Boys. At the end of the day we expect them to do men's job, they just boys for living sake. After all we have to acknowledge the fact that they stood out in their final game in the tournament, but still that was not good enough, not even to make me feel better.
The national response towards their performance, both from the elite and ordinary citizens, as seen on Face book updates, newspapers, twitter and other public social networks, was completely not impressive. The response has shown that South Africans are happy with second best. Bafana went on the pitch to face France, with no winning mentality, and that's the mentality that surrounds the country.
How now do you win, with no winning mentality?
South Africans awaited a miracle for the Boys to go through, and the Boys also hoped for a miracle, and forgot to put in some hard work in their act. South Africans have been busy praising nothing I saw. In all our appearances in the World Cup, we get to pack in the group stages, whats news? What has changed? we just bit France, who have experienced early relegation,five times in World Cup history, and who were not in their form for this tournament and we are happy about it.
At list our national team has a record, of being the first host nation in World Cup history to pack n leave the game in the first round. What more can we say? Just go home n' enjoy the games boys.

Matsulu: Members of the community burning tires in protest. Picture by: Creo Nthali

By: Creo Nthali
Members of the Matsulu community started another story for the media, as they have embarked on protests over service delivery.
The Mpumalanga province shows to be having more strikes coming its way. As if it was not enough with the Mashishing protests, which shook the province and got the media running.
This protests fall under the 2010 world cup host region, Mbombela, as Matsulu is a community located East of Nelspruit some thirty-five kilometers from the city. If the region is yet to see more of this as not only Matsulu cries of the lack of service delivery, it may prove the host region to be under a threat, especially if nothing will be done soon.
The members of the Matsulu community have run out of patients, as they claim that all they have been receiving from their councilors is empty promises. This protests started on Thursday at the community’s civic center, with not more than thirty people entertaining it. But the number that was there surely did disrupt the scheduled meeting for councilors and the



community’s’ small organizations, including the ANC youth league. They entered the council’s chamber shouting remove or kill useless councilors.
Perceiving that they were not heard on Thursday, Friday morning they mobilized other community members to part in the protest, increasing the number of protesters. Burning tires at the one way entrance and exit of the community, brought the community to a stand still, and that was after closing down the community’s civic center. For more than four hours nothing was allowed into the community and out of the community, living workers and other community members with no options but to return home.
The protest embarked on by the public was unauthorized and illegal, but the community’s police officers proved to be as useless as the councilors are said to be, as they stayed away from the seen. Maybe that was small waters, but on Thursday it was even smaller, and that means we might still see more of protesting in the community if nothing is done.

A Platform for both established and emerging South African artist
Time for the young talent to go national and nationals, collaborate with internationals

Grahams town, host of the National Arts Festival, sets the stage for all genres of performing arts, and for the young to rub shoulders with the legends.
A press release by The National Arts Festival CEO Tony Lankester, published today, states that ‘the Festival’s aims are to encourage innovation and development in the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South African artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international artists’.
The National Arts Festival commonly known as the Grahams town Festival is the second largest arts festival in the world after the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. It began as a small English literature Festival in1974, and now runs shows from drama, dance, opera, music, visual art, lectures, stand-up comics and tours, which comes up to 433 productions, and 3840 performances for the Fringe program, and 210 productions, 406 performances for the main program.
The Festival grows with continuers support from South Africans and the media, getting the town itself to grow largely, in times like this of poor financial standings the Festival brings in approximately fifty million to the region each year, stated Lankester on the press release.
”A marginal growth in overall attendance with 147 574 attendees at the various shows on offer…..with many residents of Grahams town entirely dependent on revenues brought in during the Festival” said Lankester, figures from previous years show an extensive growth in the Festival as during 2007 143 403 people attended.
Grahams town’s population almost doubles, “Every hall or large room becomes a theatre, parks and sport fields become flea markets, and every available bed in the city is booked” said Gilly Hemphill the manager of The Famous Idea Trading CC, which serves as the media office of the Festival.
The National Arts Festival is proudly South African as most shows are dominated by South African Artists, “we have few international shows nearly all the shows are local from all the provinces” said Gilly. It is a rising opportunity, especially for the emerging artist, yet it is up to them if they want the spot light to shine even after the festival. One thing that can be confirmed is that the emerging artist, are excited about being part of the biggest festival in South Africa. Supported by SK Semakaleng a student at the Tshwane University of Technology, part-taking in the school’s drama society which will be performing at the Festival, “ Its high experience unveiled, with lots of opportunities at hand……. I cannot wait”.
While emerging artists are joyful to be a part, the youth of Grahams town feels the Festival contributes to development of local people’s lifes. “All it does is creating jobs for the duration of the festival” said a Rhode University student, Zintle Vambe who is from Joza, Grahams town. It might not be much but it helps one way or the other.
The cost of tickets appeared to be high, yet even unemployed people feel the cost of tickets is worth it, “they are not cheap, I can tell you that. But whatever they are charging is worth it” Said Zintle.
From the second of July until the eleventh comes to rescue, artists will be displaying their work for the world. “Next year the Festival runs for 15 days during the World Cup, from twenty June to four July. We hope to draw audiences then” said Gilly, would you miss it again?
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