The Mo Jazz Kids will be host their annual June 16 Commemoration in honour of the youth who sacrificed their lives during the 1976 Soweto Uprising. This year’s flagship event, themed “Listen to Children,” takes place on Monday, June 16, in Nundu Street, NU11, Motherwell, starting at 10:00.
The commemoration aims to reflect on South Africa’s historic fight as well as shine a spotlight on the urgent challenges faced by youth today, particularly gender based violence (GBV), hijackings and kidnappings, which contribute to the plagued communities.
Project manager, Lennodia Peterson said, “As part of the event, the Mo Jazz Kids, alongside students from local schools like Chapman High School, Mbasa Primary School, and Mphesani High School, will hand over a petition to key role players including the Mayor, Metro Police, SAPS, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the Departments of Health and Education.”
Their message is clear: “We are tired of living in fear,” she said.
Peterson added, “We are honoured to have Leah Welcome, a young learner who plays hockey at a Provincial level to address the youth in Motherwell, because people don’t tend to come here, so we are happy she will be attending.”
“We are children, but we are not blind. We see our sisters and mothers killed, we see our friends disappearing, and we live each day wondering, will I be next?” a representative from the Mo Jazz Kids shared. “We are reminding the country of our constitutional rights, 49 years after 1976 and 28 years into our democracy.”
Peterson added, the parade will start in NU10 and proceed to NU11, which will be led by SAPS’ mounted unit hippo vehicles. Attendees will be treated to live music, poetry, and dramatic performances, including a special appearance by the St Georges Bass Band. The presence of the South African Ambassador for Children adds gravitas to what promises to be a moving and meaningful occasion.
The purpose of the event is to mobilise government departments, businesses and civil society to support youth-driven solutions. Organisers believe the socio-economic benefits are far-reaching:
• Promoting life skills and community cohesion,
• Reducing social exclusion,
• Building relationships between citizens and stakeholders,
• Encouraging youth involvement in community development,
• And ultimately, helping to curb crime and drug abuse.
Project team leader, Sihle Nquma said, “This isn’t just an event. It’s a movement, If we want to honour the youth of 1976, we must protect and empower the youth of today.”
The Mo Jazz Kids extend an open invitation to community members, leaders, and potential sponsors to join them in making this commemoration the flagship event it deserves to be. Together, they hope to create lasting change, because children are not just the future, they are the now.
