Dr Iqbal Survé delivers his Youth Day address at a commemoration at the Castle of Good Hope, linking the country’s freedom struggle to events and resistance extending beyond the 1976 Soweto Uprising. In his speech, he highlights earlier histories involving Khoisan communities and the broader influence of freedom fighters from outside South Africa, including Indonesian figures. He also references anti-apartheid activists and cultural icons, citing Abdullah Ibrahim, as part of a wider narrative of resistance and identity.
Survé’s message to young South Africans centers on the importance of remembering past struggles as a way to shape future priorities. He calls on youth to focus on education and to continue working toward social and economic justice. The address frames Youth Day as not only a commemoration of 1976, but also as an occasion to reflect on longer-term efforts toward freedom and equality, and to carry those goals forward through learning and continued civic engagement.
