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The Citizen
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Hector Pieterson's sister calls on today's youth to find a cause
What has changed in education since 1976? Hector Pieterson's sister Antoinette Sithole arrives at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, 16 June 2025, to give a lecture on her brotherwho was shot dead by the apartheid police on 16 June 1976. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/ The Citizen Antoinette Sithole, sister of June 1976 uprising shooting victim, schoolboy Hector Pieterson, says her generation is sad to see the behaviour of today's youth. They take weapons to school, attack their teachers and fellow pupils, and abuse drugs on the school premises, she noted. 'To me, the meaning of Youth Day is how to tackle your own problems. As youth, you should be out there writing placards to say 'we are tired of gender-based violence'. As parents, we will support you. 'Make a bold statement. You will be supported by billions out there in the world,' she said. Sithole said she had long ago decided to forgive the killers of her brother, Hector. 'I am on the side of those who say it's best that I don't know the person who killed my brother, because I want everything in my life to be positive,' Sithole said. Sithole was addressing an audience that included youths from different cultural backgrounds and political activists to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the police killings of pupils protesting against Afrikaans being used as a medium of instruction in black schools. She will be 66 on 28 June. What are today's youth fighting for? Another panel speaker at the event, Dr Tshepo Moloi, head of the department of history at the University of Johannesburg, related the plan to organise the 1976 uprising under the auspices of the South African Students Movement linked to the Black Consciousness Movement. Moloi made a comparison between the youth of 1976 and today's youth, saying the former were activists while questions linger about the influence today's youth have on change. However, a guest, Esinako Ndabeni, noted that the #FeesMustFall student activists played a significant role in bringing about change in the education system. Remembering Hector Sithole remembers her younger brother, Hector, as a shy but naughty little boy who once got her into trouble with train security guards. Sithole went on the train with her brother frequently, but he would ask her not to buy their weekly train tickets to school and instead to keep the money. They managed to get free rides a few times, but on the third day, she was caught by the security guards while trying to escape. Hector had already escaped and was waiting for his sister, laughing and dancing. The guards accused her of teaching her brother not to pay for tickets. Although she managed to convince the security guards to let her go, she gave her little brother a tongue lashing and vowed never to try to wangle a free train ride again. Hector, who was close to their mother, loved kung fu movies, and his hero was Bruce Lee, whose films he would watch repeatedly every weekend. 'Hector was very humble and not talkative. I know that comrades see Hector as a struggle hero, but I don't share that view. 'To me he was just my brother. He shouldn't have been there in the first place. 'He was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was shot by the police,' Sithole said. Still taught in Afrikaans She said the 1976 generation opposed Afrikaans because it was the language of the oppressor. 'We hated Afrikaans because the owner of that language was our oppressor. We felt we were oppressed by the Afrikaners. Now we have to be instructed in their language. No way,' she said. On the 49th anniversary of the 1976 uprising in which scores of pupils were killed by police and hundreds injured, Sithole said it was shocking that pupils today still have to pass Afrikaans to proceed to the next grade. She believed the language should have been taken out of the syllabus by the democratic government and replaced with a language from other African countries. 'We thought our education would be the best after all that happened. 'But I am not a politician, it's not for me to tell them what to do,' she said. Sithole, who was 16 and doing form 3 (now grade 10) at Phefeni Senior Secondary in Orlando when the 1976 student uprisings occurred, related how she found her 13-year-old brother on the other side of the pavement while police were shooting. He came to her side, but when the police fired more shots, the boy disappeared in the crowd and they were separated. Later she saw student Mbuyisa Makhubo, then 18, carrying her limp brother's body running past her. She followed him and asked who he was and where he was taking her brother, but Makhubo kept running and put Hector in a journalist's car. They took him to the clinic, but he was already dead.
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Ratubatsi Super Moloi: Hamba Kahle to a Patriot, Freedom Fighter and Seasoned Diplomat
Ambassador Ratubatsi 'Thabiso' Super Moloi's diplomatic service was marked by professionalism, integrity, and a deep understanding of international affairs says the writer. Ambassador Welile Nhlapo Ambassador Ratubatsi 'Thabiso' Super Moloi was a distinguished freedom fighter, seasoned diplomat, and lifelong servant of the African National Congress (ANC). His passing away at his parents' home in Mzimhlophe on Monday morning marks the end of a life devoted to the liberation and development of South Africa. Early Activism and the 1976 Uprising Cde Moloi's political consciousness was ignited during his youth in Soweto, where he became a prominent student leader, as a member of the South African Students Movement (SASM) and the Action Committee, which subsequently led to the June 16, 1976, student uprisings against Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools. With the subsequent formation of the Soweto Students' Representative Council (SSRC), he played a significant role in its affairs through the Shadow Committee. His leadership during this pivotal moment in South Africa's history demonstrated his unwavering commitment to justice and equality. Later, he became a member of the ANC Youth Council formed in 1982 under the leadership of Ambassador Welile Nhlapo. Underground work and imprisonment Following the 1976 uprising, Moloi joined the ANC's underground structures, working closely with the Joe Gqabi-led machinery. His dedication to the cause led to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment for six months for refusing to testify in the ANC 12 trial. This act of defiance exemplified his steadfast loyalty to the Movement and its principles. Exile and military service After his release, Moloi went into exile, where he became a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the ANC's armed wing. He served in the Department of Intelligence and Security, operating in the Kingdom of Swaziland, Mozambique, the Republic of Zambia, and ultimately in the Republic of Zimbabwe. His work in these countries was instrumental in coordinating the ANC's military and intelligence efforts during the struggle against apartheid. Diplomatic career With the advent of democracy in South Africa, Moloi transitioned into a diplomatic role, representing the country with distinction. He served as South Africa's Ambassador to Algeria, the first South African Ambassador to the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Vietnam and later to Kenya, strengthening bilateral relations and promoting South Africa's interests abroad. His diplomatic service was marked by professionalism, integrity, and a deep understanding of international affairs. Legacy Ambassador Moloi's life was characterised by his unwavering dedication to the liberation and advancement of South Africa. From his early activism in Soweto to his international diplomatic engagements, he remained committed to the principles of the ANC and the betterment of his country. His legacy serves as an inspiration to future generations committed to justice, equality, and service. The ANC mourns the loss of a true patriot and extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and comrades. Hamba kahle, Ambassador Super Moloi. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. * Welile Nhlapo is a former ambassador, National Security Adviser to the President of South Africa and Struggle Veteran. ** The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
