Speak with one voice to reach goals: SRC leader

THE DURBAN University of Technology SRC president has called on students from different institutions of higher learning to unite behind one call regardless of their political affiliations.

Zabelo Ntuli said the current challenges in institutions of higher learning required unity from students of different political parties.

“We must unite behind one call, and observe June 16 accordingly. The Fees Must Fall generation united behind their political call and tremendous victory was achieved.”

Ntuli said they still had a long way ahead, which included decolonising education content, so that it linked with societal issues.

“As the youth, we haven’t done much. We need to revive student activities which have now been weakened by the management. There is a great need for students to gain political consciousness,” Ntuli said.

University of Kwazulu-natal SRC president, Moses Nkampaki, said the June 1976 youth fought very hard against oppression and they accomplished what they fought for.

“As the youth of today, we are being oppressed by a system that is no longer friendly to us. We were promised free education by the ANC. Policies were documented, but they are not implemented,” Nkampaki said.

ethekwini Municipality Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said 1976 should be a constant reminder to the youth of today that they should be the agents of change in society.

“The class of 1976 played a critical role for us to attain the political freedom we are enjoying today. Our struggle today is about economic emancipation. Therefore our youth must be at the forefront of our efforts to drive radical socio-economic transformation,” Kaunda said.

As the city, they have initiated programmes to empower the youth and other designated groups to participate meaningfully in the mainstream economy, he said.

“Thirty percent of our procurement spend as the city will now be allocated

to youth, women, people with disabilities and military veterans,” Kaunda added.

Meanwhile, a Hilton College teacher, Kwanda Sibiya, from Manguzi, will lead the Sport for Lives, Manguzi 500km cycle/run from Hilton to Manguzi, tomorrow.

Sibiya will lead a team of six participants who will leave Hilton College tomorrow to cycle and run a distance of 500km to reach Manguzi on June 23.

Through this Sport for Lives – Manguzi Edition, Sibiya hopes to raise enough money to support, educate and mentor two orphaned Manguzi children, aged 5 and 6, for one year.

“The partnership between the Kolisi Foundation and Sport for Lives is driven by our shared desire to change the narratives around inequality in South Africa,” said Sport for Lives co-founder Chris Kingsley.

Additional funds raised will be directed to the Kolisi Foundation.

“Our purpose is to activate generosity through the vehicle of sport. We are honoured to be partnering with the Kolisi Foundation, because we are both a platform through which Kwanda’s voice and personal hope for his community can be amplified.”

This year’s National Youth Day celebration will be at Harry Gwala Athletic Stadium in umgungundlovu District.