EWN SPECIAL FEATURE: A letter to the young people who marched on June 16 1976 - EWN

June 16 is more than just a date on South Africa’s calendar. It is a reminder of the courage of young people who stood up against injustice in 1976, when pupils in Soweto marched against an oppressive education system and the forced use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.

It is also a reminder of the responsibility carried by each generation that followed, to remember, to question, and to continue the work of building a country where young people can live freely and with dignity.

Almost five decades later, Youth Day continues to ask difficult questions.

What does freedom mean for young South Africans today? How do young people understand the sacrifices made before them? And what role do they see themselves playing in shaping the country’s future?

This year, young Eyewitness News journalists reflected on what they would say if they had just one minute to speak to the youth of 1976 in an EWN Youth Day special feature.