On the frontline of change: Watch local youth reflect on Youth Day

TODAY, on June 16, 2025, South Africa is commemorating Youth Day for the 30^th year since the country’s transition to democracy.

This day, also known as National Youth Day, marks the 1976 Soweto Uprising, a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid. It is a day to honour the bravery of South African youth who fought for freedom and equality.

ALSO read: Recipes to celebrate and commemorate Youth Day

After democracy was established in 1994, June was declared Youth Month and June 16 was declared National Youth Day. In attempts to observe this day, we went on the streets of Durban, asking the young people about what Youth Day means to them and why we are commemorating it as a country.

The young people rejoiced at the opportunity and reflected on their day in the video below. Most of these young people are part of the Generation Z, the demographic cohort born between 1997 and 2012.

As South Africans, this is critical to their perception of their upbringing as 1992 was the entry into a democratic society whereby all people of colour were considered equal under the law.

A significant day during the apartheid era was June 16, 1976 when 20 000 students marched against the inferior Bantu education system provided to the black community. Looking back at this day, local youth also reflect on why we commemorate this special day.

Watch below what the youth have to say about Youth Day:

@caxtonlocalmedia “We remember why” | On the 30th Youth Day since SA’s democracy, we hit the streets of Durban to hear from Gen Z about what this historic day means to them. 🇿🇦✊ From reflections on 1976 to hopes for the future, this is what the youth had to say. #caxtondurban #YouthDay2025 #GenerationZ #SowetoUprising ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia

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