Kokstad - Thousands of KwaZulu-Natal residents have gathered at the Riverview Stadium under the Sisonke District Municipality to commemorate Youth Day.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize is expected to deliver his keynote address later today at the provincial event, which is themed "Celebrating Vibrant Youth Voice."
South Africans across the country will commemorate Youth Day in recognition of the brave youths who on 16 June 1976 stood up against the apartheid government's Bantu Education laws.
The sacrifices made by the class of 1976 were a turning point in the history of the country and set South Africa firmly on the road to democracy.
Today the Soweto Uprisings are used to educate the youth about the importance of human rights and dignity.
As a result of clashes with the police, and the violence that ensued at the time, approximately 700 hundred people, many of them youths, were killed and property destroyed.
The issue however, was not only, but the whole system of Bantu Education, which was characterised by separate schools and universities, poor facilities, overcrowded classrooms and inadequately trained teachers.
Nokwanda Mthembu, a youth from Port Shepstone told BuaNews that the youth of today need to learn from the youth of 1976 and use the same spirit to fight poverty in the country.
"I believe if we can work together as the youth we can achieve anything. The class of 1976 shows us that by working together as a collective anything is possible," said Mthembu.
Sihle Gule from Mzinto said the youth of today are faced with different challenges compared to the class of 1976, but they can use the same spirit to overcome them.
He said the youth need to use the same spirit of togetherness to fight poverty, crime, unemployment and those youth who are in business can help by give opportunities to other young people.
The provincial youth commemoration is hosted by the office of the premier in partnership with the provincial youth commission and the Sisonke District Municipality.
Local artists and traditional dancers will be entertaining the crowds of people throughout the day. Some of the popular kwaito artists that would be performing later today include the likes of Elvovo Dirrango and Tizozo and Professor.
