15 June 2007
The SACP would like to take this opportunity to honour the generation of the 16 June 1976 uprisings that propelled the struggle forward towards the achievement of freedom and democracy in our country.
Today, the responsibility to deepen and advance the revolution rests with our youth, especially working class youth, and they have an important role to play in building our country.
Indeed the 1976 generation should be proud of the many achievements of our democracy; a democracy which they fought and died for. This therefore demands of all our youth to be in the front of rebuilding our country as part of honouring the heroic actions of the class of 1976.
Today’s youth is still faced with the many challenges, including the scourge of HIV/AIDS, eradication of poverty and creation of quality and sustainable jobs, and the provision of free quality public education. Furthermore the creation of an alternative humane and caring economic system, where the needs of the people are put before profits and self enrichment , is what our youth are faced with today.
Just like in 1976, the SACP still remains convinced that the only humane and just future can only be fully attained in a socialist dispensation. Just like capitalism failed the youth in 1976, it continues to marginalise, retrench, casualise, outsource our youth and is hopelessly incapable of addressing the very high youth unemployment of our country.
Just as the 1976 uprisings were an expression of an aspiration for a democratic South Africas, for the SACP we still remain convinced that it was also an expression of an aspiration for a just and caring society; and that can only be a socialist society.
As we honour the class of 1976 for their role, we call on the youth of today to rise up to the occasion, and take the lead in the struggle to rebuild our country and create a caring society..
Issued by the SACP.
For Information Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson
082 226 1802