UP’s SRC President, Thuto Mashile (22) and Deputy President Stefan Steenekamp (23) reflect on the courage and bravery shown by the youth of 1976 during the Soweto uprisings and what it means for youth today. These student leaders have witnessed firsthand the challenges which young people face and through their roles at the SRC hope to empower students to achieve success and pursue a future of freedom, equality, and diversity.

Mashile, an honours student in Development Studies, was born and raised in Katlehong and recalls having a good and solid upbringing. Her grandmother, the matriarch of the family was a leader in the community who was always available to help people. Growing up under her care and leadership inspired Mashila to pursue a life of activism, to uplift and empower her peers to achieve their goals.

Steenekamp, a master’s student in plant sciences and agriculture, supports Mashila’s portfolios, along with others within the SRC. His most crucial responsibility is ensuring the wellbeing and mental stability of his fellow colleagues. Like Mashile, he grew up in a stable home in Heidelberg, but when he moved to Pretoria to study further, he was confronted by the various challenges which students face. This awareness fueled his passion to assist those in need around him.

UP SRC President Thuto Mashile and Deputy President Stefan Steenekamp.

The SRC exists to serve and support students and ensure a robust university experience. The council’s main objective for 2022 is to increase visibility and accessibility for students. “It's been a while since students have had direct access and have been able to engage with the SRC. So our aim is to broaden ourselves and ensure that the students of the University of Pretoria know that the SRC is there to champion their needs and whatever challenges that they've highlighted,” says Mashile. Steenekamp adds that students have felt isolated since returning to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the aim of the SRC is to direct them to the relevant structures and services that will provide guidance during the transition.

There are some parallels to be drawn between the experiences of youth in 2022 and of those who took part in the Soweto uprisings. The youth of 1976 were severely disadvantaged by oppressive education policies including the language policy that required them to learn subjects such as Mathematics in Afrikaans. 46 years later, access to education has improved significantly, however, the greatest obstacle remains financial access to institutions of higher learning. Mashile and Steenekamp are positive that they can draw learnings and hope from the young people who marched for freedom in 1976. They admire the display of a ‘can-do’ attitude, resilience and the choice to be self-reliant. Additionally, they chose to combine their efforts and approach their challenges with a united front. Mashile remarks that in present times activism is implemented in isolation and people are not uniting or collaborating across gender, age or racial lines. Instead activism mainly occurs on social media and the conversations are held in silos. She believes that young people can overcome much by harnessing the courage and united spirit of the youth of 1976.

Other challenges that plague young people in South Africa today include Gender- Based Violence, high unemployment rates and a lack of relevant skills which should lead to employability. “I believe that we have marginal, or even non-existent economic growth in South Africa. We have a very limited capacity to absorb young individuals or even any individuals into the working environment. The result is several students staying at home, whether they're qualified or not, with no work,” Steenekamp points out. Mashile adds that a lack of mentorship and knowledge transfer continues to cripple young people, making it difficult to advance emotionally, mentally and economically.

Mashile and Steenekamp’s call to action for all young people is to take accountability and responsibility for their role in society and tackle these issues. They believe that through a united front, South Africa’s youth can create a hate-free society that is inclusive and does not discriminate against race, sexuality, religion, economic class, or political affiliation. Additionally, they believe one of the super-powers of their generation is access to information, which can be used as a tool for transformation on the African continent. Lastly, Steenekamp encourages all to embrace change and use it as a catalyst for progress, “Every day is different. When we get up and when we go to sleep, it's going to be different. New adventures, new people, everything is new. The only constant is change. So we should not be afraid.”

This youth month, may all staff and students carefully consider the challenges facing our youth and answer the call to collaborate and inspire change.