JUNE 16 marked to celebrate the contribution and achievements of the gallant youth of 1976 to create a free and democratic SA that belonged to all who lived in it, Congress of the People (Cope) president Mosiuoa Lekota said in a statement.
In a statement themed “rise, mobilise and organise to save SA” Lekota said the Cope was joining the entire nation, united in its diversity, to remember the sacrifices of young people. “They fought for the ideal and attainment of an inclusive and prosperous economic development and a country underpinned by the values of freedom, equality and solidarity.”
Lekota said called the youth of that year heroes and heroines who bequeathed to the present generation examples of selfless service to the people, commitment and dedication to the course of a better SA. Lekota said these examples should be embraced and emulated. “We are inspired by the values of honesty, loyalty and integrity and the clarity of their political consciousness which rejected narrow self interest or personal greed,” Lekota said.
Their struggle, he said, was to free all the people of SA from poverty, inequality and under-development. They paid the supreme sacrifice in their quest to attain education and skills that empowers the youth to attain economic emancipation in a prosperous country.
“On this day, Cope calls on all youth to rededicate themselves to build a new covenant to continue the noble fight in pursuit of the ideals of the 1976 generation of a better country for all and not just a small politically connected elite. Today, as dark clouds gathers over the nation, Cope calls on the youth to rise, mobilise and organise to save SA, like the youth of 1976.”
A united people must remain vigilant against attempts at divide and rule as orchestrated by those who squandered the trust the people entrusted in them but now want to overstay their welcome. They flout and undermine the constitution, for which the 1976 generation paid the supreme sacrifice, which is the framework to attain the socio economic rights as contained in the Bill of Rights.
“While the present governments spends massive amounts on education, it hopelessly fails to produce quality education and skills that make it possible for economic development and emancipation of our youth. The root cause of this betrayal of the ideals of the 1976 generation can be traced to corruption and bad governance by the ruling elite,” Lekota said.