Province to celebrate Youth Day
THE NORTHERN Cape government will commemorate the 41st anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising at the McDonald Pitso Stadium in Valspan in Jan Kempdorp tomorrow.
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture spokesperson, Conrad Fortune, said that a number of events were being planned prior to the main Youth Day event.
“The commemoration will be preceded by a variety of programmes targeted at the young people. This includes a memorial lecture to be hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture on the Life and Times of OR Tambo, which will take place in Pampierstad tomorrow (today).
“The Department of Social Development will also roll out the inter-generational dialogues and launch its Provincial Youth Month Development Strategy, while the National Youth Development Agency will embark on an outreach programme aimed at youth economic development,” said Fortune.
He added that the department would also honour struggle icons who played a role in emancipation of the youth.
“The department will use the month to rename the office buildings of the Department of Social Development, Mimosa Complex, to Lahlu Mabilo Complex next week. The department will also be unveiling the revamped tombstones of Barney Judith Moacwi and Mayenzeke Charl Ntlathi in Kimberley next Saturday (June 24). The trio were some of the activists who were at the forefront of the youth struggle in the Northern Cape.”
Fortune added that the events would take place under the theme: The Year of OR Tambo: Advancing Youth Economic Participation.
Premier Sylvia Lucas, who will be accompanied by members of the executive council, is scheduled to be the main speaker at the Youth Day event.
• National leader of Cope, Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, will be the guest of honour at the party’s Youth Day celebrations in Roodepan tomorrow.
The main event will be a march to the Roodepan police station where young children from various crèches and youths will hand over a memorandum to the Station Commander.
Afterwards, Lekota will address the community.