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The 2018 Youth Day Commemoration will take place on Saturday, 16 June 2018 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Gauteng Province, under the theme: Live the Legacy: Towards a socio-economically empowered youth.

This year's commemoration coincides with the Centenary of the late former President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela and the Centenary of Mama Albertina Sisulu.

On 16 June 1976, students assembled at different points throughout Soweto, then set off to meet at Orlando West Secondary School where the plan was to pledge their solidarity, sing Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika and, having made their point then go back home.

More than 15 000 youngsters between the ages of 10 and 20 clad in their school uniforms converged at Orlando West Secondary School in Vilakazi Street, Soweto, to match to Orlando Stadium. But before the march began, police entered the township and instructed the students to disperse. Met with resistance, the police sprayed the crowd with teargas. The students retaliated by throwing stones at the police. The police started firing live bullets.

The first documented fatality of the day was Hector Pieterson, a 12-year-old pupil shot by police. He was picked up by Mbuyisa Makhubo, a school mate, who ran with him in his arms to Phefeni Clinic with Pieterson’s sister, Antoinette, running next to him. The image of Makhubo with Pieterson in his arms and Antoinette running next to them was caught on camera by Sam Nzima, a photographer for The World newspaper, and became the international visual of the day and the ultimate symbol of the student uprising on 16 June 1976.

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Issued by National Youth Development Agency