Premier Mabuyane led Youth Day celebrations on Friday, 16 June 2023 in Gqeberha. This year marked the 47th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising, where hundreds of young people rose up against the brutal apartheid system and ignited resistance around the country. This uprising inspired the nation but also ended with hundreds being brutally killed. In 1994, the new democratic government declared 16 June as National Youth Day and June as Youth Month.

This year, we celebrate Youth Month and Day under the theme: Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future”.

Today our youth face a new enemy in poverty, inequality, and unemployment. As the Eastern Cape Government, we call on young people to collaborate with us as we collectively build an inclusive economy, create employment, alleviate poverty, and transform our communities. Let us awaken the spirit of 1976 where young people were actively involved in defining their future and the country they wanted.

This generation must continue to build a nation that encourages dialogue, fosters social cohesion and celebrates its heritage.