The year 2022 marks 46th Anniversary of the 1976 Student uprising which is commemorated annually as Youth Day in South Africa. On this day ,students from numerous Sowetan schools began to protest in the streets of Soweto in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. It is estimated that 20,000 students took part in the protests. They were met with fierce police brutality and many were shot and killed.

As part commemorating Youth Day the Provincial Administration of the Northern Cape will embark on a campaign in Camden in the John Toalo Gaetsewe District where young people stands to benefit from an array of government services to be brought to them. This will take place from Wednesday, 15 June 2022 during an all embracing Government Services Fair where various government departments and other stakeholders will showcase empowerment opportunities to the youths. The Services Fair will be held at Ba-Ga Phetlhu Tribal Offices at Camden as part of build up programmes to the 2022 Provincial Youth Day commemorations.

The Services Fair will be followed by the main Provincial Youth Day celebrations at the same venue on Thursday, 16 June 2022. The event is scheduled to be addressed by Premier Dr. Zamani Saul under the theme "Promoting sustainable livelihood and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow." Premier Saul will be accompanied by the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Ms. Desiree Finnies, the local leadership and leadership of John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.

As part of the youth month programme , the Department of Sport ,Arts and Culture , will also be unveiling the revamped memorial site of Roseline Cloete and Michael Julius in Kakamas , who was killed by the then Apartheid Police on the 13 February 1988. The revamping of the memorial site forms part of our campaign where we want to change the behavior of our community members and our children in regards to the preservation of our historical sites.

The MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture will also deliver her Budget Speech in Springbok as part of the Youth Month build up programme. The Provincial Government together with National Youth Development Agency, NYDA will also conduct awareness campaigns on economic opportunities. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in the ZF Mgcawu District will host community dialogues at Rietfontein while in Pixley Ka Seme the youth will converge at Prieska to receive a Youth Day message. The department will roll out community dialogues at Mayibuye Multi-Purpose Centre in Kimberley in the Frances Baard District and at Nababeep in Namakwa District.

Issued by: Communications Unit
Northern Cape Sport, Arts and Culture Department
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