South African youth speak about 16 June 1976 and Fees Must Fall
- 4 years ago
June 16 is celebrated as Youth Day in South Africa. After the first democratic elections in 1994, June 16 was declared a public holiday to commemorate the student uprisings of 1976.
In June 1976 students across South Africa started rising up against the Bantu Education Act which declared Afrikaans as the language of instruction. The image of a dying Hector Pietersen, being carried after having been shot, became the iconic image associated with the 1976 uprising.
In 2015 another student uprising emerged under the banner of Fees Must Fall, when university students shut down all institutions of higher learning. They rejected the annual fee increase and demanded free, quality and decolonized education.
Mcebo Dlamini, as a leader of the Students Representative Council at Wits University, mobilised students and was arrested and convicted of public violence.
Three young people spoke about their understanding of what happened on June 16 1976 and also their views on Fees Must Mall.
Mushfiqah Kriel is a Grade 12 learner at the Michael Oak Waldorf School in Kenilworth.
Taahaa Hendricks is a university student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Taskeen Tippens is a Grade 12 learner at Fairmont High School in Durbanville.
In June 1976 students across South Africa started rising up against the Bantu Education Act which declared Afrikaans as the language of instruction. The image of a dying Hector Pietersen, being carried after having been shot, became the iconic image associated with the 1976 uprising.
In 2015 another student uprising emerged under the banner of Fees Must Fall, when university students shut down all institutions of higher learning. They rejected the annual fee increase and demanded free, quality and decolonized education.
Mcebo Dlamini, as a leader of the Students Representative Council at Wits University, mobilised students and was arrested and convicted of public violence.
Three young people spoke about their understanding of what happened on June 16 1976 and also their views on Fees Must Mall.
Mushfiqah Kriel is a Grade 12 learner at the Michael Oak Waldorf School in Kenilworth.
Taahaa Hendricks is a university student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Taskeen Tippens is a Grade 12 learner at Fairmont High School in Durbanville.