Veli Mbele

Reflecting on his own contribution to the Russian Revolution, the Realist writer, Nikolai Ostrovsky, wrote thus:

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the student uprising of 16 June 1976. Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, this day has been commemorated in a number of interesting ways.

A friend of mine, who is a high school teacher, recently invited me to come and speak to his students, all of whom will be voting for the first time in forthcoming local government elections.

Like all young black people who have consciously made an attempt to improve their lives, I now live in an area previously reserved for whites. Not far from where I am staying, there is one primary school and two high schools.

The deputy president of AZAPO, Ntate Strike Thokoane;
The leadership of AZAPO in the Westrand;
The youth leadership of AZAPO;
Distinguished guests;
Comrades and friends: