11 June 2013

The Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will mark the 37th anniversary of 1976 Soweto uprisings by rolling out a number of commemorative events across the province.

Working together with the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, the department is set to repatriate the remains of a former freedom fighter Philemon Tshekiso Nkadimang from Kimberley for reburial at Kuruman in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District. His remains will be dug from the West End Cemetry on Friday, 14 June 2013 and will be reburied at his hometown of Kuruman on Saturday, 15 June 2013 as part of the district’s youth day commemoration. The event will be led by the Speaker of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature Kenny Mmoiemang.

The department will also host memorial lecture in honour of Jerry Botha and Oleseng Mothibi, two former youth activists from the Phokwane area. The lecture which will be addressed by Finance MEC John Block will be held on Sunday, 16 June 2013 at Bonita Park Stadium. Premier Sylvia Lucas will deliver a keynote address at an interfaith church service at Robert Gunda Stadium in Siyanda District while MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Pauline Williams will also join in a similar event at Lorriesfontein in Namakwa District. The MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Norman Shushu will be the main speaker at a church service at Kuertjieskloof in the Pixley ka Seme District. The event will be celebrated under the theme “Working together for youth development and drug free South Africa”

Editor’s Notes:

While the youth of 1976 fought for freedom and the creation of a democratic state, today’s youth activism is directed towards successfully tackling the challenges of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, HIV and AIDS, personal development and economic freedom.
On  a national level, the commemoration of Youth Day will be led by the Department of Arts & Culture (DAC) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). The main focus of Youth Month will be on the fight against substance abuse and youth development

Alcohol and Substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking is a global phenomenon, and South Africa is no exception. This has serious implications for millions of South Africans because alcohol and substance abuse contributes to crime, gangsterism, domestic violence, family dysfunction and other social problems.
Moreover, it has been reported that drug abuse in South Africa is twice the world norm in most cases. In particular, youth have borne the brunt of abuse with the emergence of local drugs such as Nyaope and Kubar.

The South African government recognises that the drug problem is complex and requires decisive and collective national action. Government has been at the forefront of fighting the scourge of substance abuse through various national initiatives and programmes.

Issued by: Morapedi Sekhoane
Manager: Communications and Special Programmes
Northern Cape Sport, Arts and Culture Department
Tell: 053 807 4782
Cell: 078 944 0200