"A South Africa of that time was a hopeless place, oppresive, depressing," these were the words of struggle veteran, Mkhuseli Jack, speaking during last Thursday's event to celebrate Youth Day at the Albany museum.
"A South Africa of that time was a hopeless place, oppresive, depressing," these were the words of struggle veteran, Mkhuseli Jack, speaking during last Thursday's event to celebrate Youth Day at the Albany museum.
He added that opportunities for young black people were curtailed or non-exististant.
His stories of overcoming the challenges his generation faced during those years had his audience enthralled.
He praised those at the forefront of the movement.
"We were led by men that had high moral standards people you could trust.
Whenever they told you something you could be sure it came from the bottom of their hearts. Imagine facing an army and a leader like John Foster who controlled everything in this land.
What would you have done, would you have taken a chance against such a powerful thing it's just like emptying the sea with a teaspoon?"
He said he hoped his message would inspire young people in the audience and show them they can fight injustice if they see it.
"I'm trying to show you that, if you stick to what is right, it doesn't matter how powerful the person who is doing something wrong is.
As long as they are doing something wrong I'm not afraid of them.
I will only be scared of you if I'm doing something wrong and you are doing the right thing, then I have no power over you."
Jack and fellow struggle veteran, Bonisile Nesi, engaged young people from all over the city as they spoke about South Africa's past as well as picking up on the national Youth Month theme of "Youth taking South Africa forward".
Mkhuseli Jack is now a business leader who led students in Port Elizabeth at the time of the Soweto uprisings.
He shared his experiences of that period, as well as talking about youth participation in business and economic development. Bonisile Nesi is an ANC MP and originally from Grahamstown.
He also talked about his experiences and explored the role our youth can play in advancing South Africa's political development.
Listen to extracts from Bonisile Nesi and Mkhuseli Jack's speeches.
