We are not here to have fun or celebrate, we are here to commemorate our fallen heroes. These were the sombre words of Azapo regional chairman Lungile Dick, at the party's Youth Day event on Saturday.

We are not here to have fun or celebrate, we are here to commemorate our fallen heroes. These were the sombre words of Azapo regional chairman Lungile Dick, at the party's Youth Day event on Saturday.

Held at Kutliso Daniels Secondary School's soccer field, not only did regional Azapo members come to the commemoration, but national and provincial party members too. Representatives from the Azanian Students Convention (Azasco) and Azayo (Azanian Youth Organisation), Grahamstown residents, traditional dancers and poets were also there.

Azapo's national community development and projects co-ordinator Simphiwo Hashe said that 36 years after the Soweto uprisings, the South African youth are still fighting against a poor education system.

Azapo provincial secretary and Makana Ward 2 councillor Nosigqibo Soxujwa echoed Hashe's sentiments. How can a teacher have more than 40 children to educate in one period? she asked.

But Hashe said that as the struggle continues, people must be their own saviours and set themselves free. Azapo demands the struggle of the people to be owned by the people, he said.

But according to Dick, the fact of the matter is that Azapo is the only option for the struggle of black people.

During the event freedom songs were chanted and Joza poet Aviwe Menze recited a poem. The names of Azapo struggle heroes were also called upon by Hlangabeza Klaas. They were: Notokhwe Mankayi, Mzwanele Dyongmani, Noma-Azania Matutu, Mzivukile Mxube, Simphiwo Nelo, Nolukholo Hale and Vusumzi Mxube.

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