Be inspired by the youth of 1976 to face challenges
AS we commemorate this most important month in our calendar of the struggle for democracy, which is June, I call on all people and mostly ANC members and leaders to confront current challenges inspired by the youth of June 1976.
We must therefore as the ANC members and youth of our country rise to the challenges, declare boldly that the struggle is not over and that we will be the champions who will ensure the realisation of the ideals of a South Africa envisioned in the Freedom Charter.
Exactly 41 years on, after that dreadful day when Hector Peterson fell by the barrel of a gun fired by cold-blooded state security operatives on June 16 1976, we commemorate this month and especially June 16.
What is important with regard to the June commemoration is to learn from the courage young people had in shaping their destiny, despite the enormous odds arrayed against them.
After the unbanning, when the ANC Youth League was relaunched in 1991, the youth of our country found themselves at the crossroads of change.
The late former president of the ANC Youth League, Peter Mokaba, reminded the youth of the popular notion that in such circumstances they either had to adapt or die. This is relevant even now.
I am calling on the current youth and those who have just graduated from the Youth League either to adapt or die in the current situation.
As we march towards the eighth Eastern Cape provincial conference of the ANC in July, we need leaders who can adapt or die.
As we celebrate this June month, we must be reminded of the leadership challenges and the character of leaders the ANC requires in this terrain.
Therefore, I am calling on all ANC branches and Youth League members to endorse and field with no fears or confusion Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane as the Eastern Cape ANC provincial chairperson, Mlungisi Gerald Mvoko as deputy provincial chairperson, Lulama Ngcukayitobi as the provincial secretary, Helen August-Sauls as the provincial deputy secretary and Babalo Madikizela as the provincial treasurer.
At the 54th ANC national elective conference field Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa as the ANC president.
By doing so, we will be fulfilling the vision of those whose lives were dedicated to the achievement of our democracy.
By failing to place them in leadership, we will be failing the 1976 youth.
Our struggle is not that of shouting from the top of mountains, but one informed by the real challenges facing our people and the youth in particular.
Thanks to the historic and heroic struggles, now we have through freedom the opportunity to commemorate the role those before us played.
Viwe Sidali, ANC member, Mzwanele Fazzie branch executive committee member, former ANCYL regional executive committee member in the Buffalo City metro and activist, Duncan Village, East London