It is 40 years after June 1976 and the children of the children of Soweto are demanding to know what has happened to their parents and the fiery spirit of the Black Consciousness revolutionaries.
There was no ANC government with black hands on all the levers of state power back in 1976.
The aim is to bring about change in a peaceful manner that will leave the country united and intact.
But over the past 10 years there has been a marked increase in conflict between government and the people who are rising up to demand better service delivery. Ironically, this has resulted in self-inflicted pain and misery for black lives.
Townships are increasingly becoming battle areas. Homes and public building have been burnt. There are dead bodies.
But the last 25 years has changed the behaviour and attitude of the youth of June 1976.
It is idiocy to assume that people who have been through more than four “revolutions”, if you can call them that – 1960, 1976, 1985 and 1990 – would not be battle scarred and weary.
There are some over 50-year-olds who want to pretend that they still have the passion to breathe fire from their mouths and that they have not changed.
They entertain delusions of being lifelong radical revolutionaries.
But everything thing has its time and purpose. These rhetorical revolutionaries find status and shallow self-fulfilment from rousing the emotions of the young. This is all an adventure to bring back a dead past.
But for many children of Soweto, there is no going back to the past, 1976 is history. The best lesson to be learnt from it is not to repeat its mistakes, if any.
The next 15 years – if we are to reach the National Development Plan target of transforming this society by 2030 – must be a creative adventure about nation building and social cohesion.
Time and energy must be channelled into recreating a society characterised by self-love and principled commitment to justice and equality. It must be inspired by positivity, passion, laughter, beauty, love, unity and a burning desire to see the new come out of the old.
Every citizen, woman and child must be encouraged to be an agent who contributes to the just and equal society that the June 16 generation showed its determination to build.
The youthful search for meaning through violence and destructive behaviour, especially in communities and campuses, is not part of the nation building agenda.
The idea of burning down buildings and institutions that are bridges to creating opportunities for success and achievement, especially for the young, will not take the country to a bright future.
Interestingly many children of 1976 are not terrified by the current deep rumbles and dramatic explosion of discontent. Most of them have nothing to lose – they neither own the land nor control the economy.
But there is a fear that if the young do not take responsibility and build this country into what they want it to be in a peaceful manner, they will inherit a war-torn landscape.
It is always tempting for the under-25-year-olds or the unemployed youth to go-for-broke because they have nothing to lose.
But there are no winners in war.
One of the greatest achievements of the 1976 children of Soweto was to finally deliver the revolution through peaceful means.
And when you have been through a period of upheaval and dramatic resistance, it is tempting to avoid repeating mistakes of the past, especially the violence and struggle that leads to loss of life.
War and violence may be exciting on television but the reality is far different. Every life is sacred.
With 1976 came the collapse of important values such as respect for elders, accountability, the value of education and freedom of choice and the promotion of peace, among others.
At the time it was thought the end justified the means.
The heroic icons of the struggle, Robert Sobukwe, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela are mostly dead now. They live only in the ideals and principles they espoused for a new society.
The new times of a post-apartheid society demand that the heirs of their selflessness, self-sacrifice and service to the nation and world should open up the uncharted future that began in 1994.
That year should have marked a turning point with a future of justice and equality in a new society beckoning.
The constitution outlined the values of security and comfort, work, education and work as the way to a happy life that enjoys freedom and democracy.
There was a time in the mid-1980s, with the rise of the Mass Democratic Movement, when the children of Soweto moved together with their white counterparts to envision a majority society based on democratic principles.
The translation of these ideals into foundational principles enshrined in the constitution heightened the awareness that a just and equal society is attainable.
Over the last 21 years, the children of the children of Soweto have grown into young adults. Democracy has matured. The heirs need to be seen to be acting in a responsible manner, one based on human rights.
There is no need for polarisation between the young and old. The rise of the #FeesMustFall movement was a welcome development that should point the country in the right direction.
The children of Soweto are now adults who are approaching old age. Their concern is for a bright future for their offspring. A world where the African child can live in peace with all who belong here.
Those over 50 years will not be drinking up any revolutionary brew that will result in a setback of what has been attained since the release of Mandela, the return of exiles over 25 years ago and the liberation movement taking the reins of political power.
The children of Soweto have exhausted their historical role. It is not their responsibility to complete the mission.
But the risk of the June 16 generation becoming a tombstone of the betrayal of African dreams and aspirations cannot be ruled out.
For this reason their offspring must take up the baton and take responsibility to build the kind of society that they and their children will live in.
It is the duty of the young to improve on what their parents and predecessors have failed to do.
Sandile Memela is a civil servant
Whither the spirit of ‘76?
There was no ANC government with black hands on all the levers of state power back in 1976.
The aim is to bring about change in a peaceful manner that will leave the country united and intact.
But over the past 10 years there has been a marked increase in conflict between government and the people who are rising up to demand better service delivery. Ironically, this has resulted in self-inflicted pain and misery for black lives.
Townships are increasingly becoming battle areas. Homes and public building have been burnt. There are dead bodies.
But the last 25 years has changed the behaviour and attitude of the youth of June 1976.
It is idiocy to assume that people who have been through more than four “revolutions”, if you can call them that – 1960, 1976, 1985 and 1990 – would not be battle scarred and weary.
There are some over 50-year-olds who want to pretend that they still have the passion to breathe fire from their mouths and that they have not changed.
They entertain delusions of being lifelong radical revolutionaries.
But everything thing has its time and purpose. These rhetorical revolutionaries find status and shallow self-fulfilment from rousing the emotions of the young. This is all an adventure to bring back a dead past.
But for many children of Soweto, there is no going back to the past, 1976 is history. The best lesson to be learnt from it is not to repeat its mistakes, if any.
The next 15 years – if we are to reach the National Development Plan target of transforming this society by 2030 – must be a creative adventure about nation building and social cohesion.
Time and energy must be channelled into recreating a society characterised by self-love and principled commitment to justice and equality. It must be inspired by positivity, passion, laughter, beauty, love, unity and a burning desire to see the new come out of the old.
Every citizen, woman and child must be encouraged to be an agent who contributes to the just and equal society that the June 16 generation showed its determination to build.
The youthful search for meaning through violence and destructive behaviour, especially in communities and campuses, is not part of the nation building agenda.
The idea of burning down buildings and institutions that are bridges to creating opportunities for success and achievement, especially for the young, will not take the country to a bright future.
Interestingly many children of 1976 are not terrified by the current deep rumbles and dramatic explosion of discontent. Most of them have nothing to lose – they neither own the land nor control the economy.
But there is a fear that if the young do not take responsibility and build this country into what they want it to be in a peaceful manner, they will inherit a war-torn landscape.
It is always tempting for the under-25-year-olds or the unemployed youth to go-for-broke because they have nothing to lose.
But there are no winners in war.
One of the greatest achievements of the 1976 children of Soweto was to finally deliver the revolution through peaceful means.
And when you have been through a period of upheaval and dramatic resistance, it is tempting to avoid repeating mistakes of the past, especially the violence and struggle that leads to loss of life.
War and violence may be exciting on television but the reality is far different. Every life is sacred.
With 1976 came the collapse of important values such as respect for elders, accountability, the value of education and freedom of choice and the promotion of peace, among others.
At the time it was thought the end justified the means.
The heroic icons of the struggle, Robert Sobukwe, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela are mostly dead now. They live only in the ideals and principles they espoused for a new society.
The new times of a post-apartheid society demand that the heirs of their selflessness, self-sacrifice and service to the nation and world should open up the uncharted future that began in 1994.
That year should have marked a turning point with a future of justice and equality in a new society beckoning.
The constitution outlined the values of security and comfort, work, education and work as the way to a happy life that enjoys freedom and democracy.
There was a time in the mid-1980s, with the rise of the Mass Democratic Movement, when the children of Soweto moved together with their white counterparts to envision a majority society based on democratic principles.
The translation of these ideals into foundational principles enshrined in the constitution heightened the awareness that a just and equal society is attainable.
Over the last 21 years, the children of the children of Soweto have grown into young adults. Democracy has matured. The heirs need to be seen to be acting in a responsible manner, one based on human rights.
There is no need for polarisation between the young and old. The rise of the #FeesMustFall movement was a welcome development that should point the country in the right direction.
The children of Soweto are now adults who are approaching old age. Their concern is for a bright future for their offspring. A world where the African child can live in peace with all who belong here.
Those over 50 years will not be drinking up any revolutionary brew that will result in a setback of what has been attained since the release of Mandela, the return of exiles over 25 years ago and the liberation movement taking the reins of political power.
The children of Soweto have exhausted their historical role. It is not their responsibility to complete the mission.
But the risk of the June 16 generation becoming a tombstone of the betrayal of African dreams and aspirations cannot be ruled out.
For this reason their offspring must take up the baton and take responsibility to build the kind of society that they and their children will live in.
It is the duty of the young to improve on what their parents and predecessors have failed to do.
Sandile Memela is a civil servant
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos