Call for youth to emulate Mandela’s selflessness

Some students, who celebrated Mandela Day, are urging the youth to be selfless in honour of the legacy of South Africa’s first democratic president.

One student, who advocates for selflessness, is 23-year-old Mahlatsi Monama. He is the founder of a student entertainment structure called R20 Entertainment, which relieves students from academic stress through hosting game nights for them.

He says today’s youth need to understand that more than anything, leadership is not just about fighting for only one’s well-being, but for that of others too.

He urges Yires to truly understand comradery.

“Some of today’s youth has lost what it means to be a true political figure or comrade. So they actually do it for publicity of position. We should expose today’s youth to what it truly means to be a political member, or a comrade, and show them what it is we are actually fighting for. What Mandela fought for is not yet accomplished, he simply paved the way and because he did so, we have to build on it and be progressive,” says Mahlatsi.

The young lion was part of roughly 200 Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) students from different campuses across the capital city, who convened at the Tshwane House Council Chambers where the Tshwane Colloquium 2025 event took place on Friday, in honour of Nelson Mandela, who was affectionately known as the father of nation.

They were listening to a panel of speakers, who enlightened them on the late president’s leadership and his impact on the country.

Some of the university’s student leaders, who were also part of the panel of speakers, used the opportunity to voice out some of their concerns.

One 20-year-old Bachelor of Education student, Disoloane Beshley, believes one important task for today’s youth is to fight for economic freedom, given the high youth unemployment statistics in South Africa.

“As young people we need to fight for economic freedom because that is what will bring forth job creation, access to skills facilities and all the resources that young people need to thrive. We are living in a country right now where young people are suffering from unemployment. It is increasing and yet we have senior leaders within cabinet, who are getting high salaries. So one of the most important things that we can do as young people in honour of this special day is to ensure that we debate constructively on burning issues for youth of this country,” says Bashley.

The South African Students’ Congress (Sasco) secretary at TUT adds that young people has a duty to remember the battles that past leaders fought for the country to be where it is today.

“You will recall that the likes of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Nelson Mandela, and the likes, fought fearlessly and viciously for the freedom we have today and I must indicate as a young person that we have indeed attained democratic freedom,” adds Bashley.

Some students believe it’s critical for the country’s youth to familarise itself with politics.

Tshepo Mohlala (24) says he is happy to have been part of the Mandela Day event, where he was listening to gain more knowledge about the internationally renowned struggle stalwart’s leadership.

The Local Government Public Affairs TUT student says it’s important for young people to know about politics as it helps shape their duty to carry forward the aim of achieving a better South Africa for all.

He adds that for the youth to move forward, it has to be aware of its past.

“If we familiarise ourselves with politics it means we would have an idea of what we are actually fighting for as youth. We need to understand the struggles and battles of the past youth so that the youth of today know what to do next. Such things are crucial for us to engage in,” says Mohlala.

Anti-apartheid activist, Mac Maharaj, urges Yires to construct their lives with an aim to ensure equality for.

“The Constitution commits us to build a society based on the principal of equality in which non-racialism and gender equality become part of our daily lives and daily practices. We are tasked by the Constitution with building a united nation in which our diverse languages, cultures, and religions thrive and they all contribute in building a democratic and prosperous country that is at peace with itself,” the anti-apartheid activist said in his keynote address.

Maharaj admits that the country still has a long way to go before it frees itself from the shackles of oppression, stressing that the road is difficult.

He adds that it is critical for the young people to also understand the country’s Constitution and the Bill of Rights, while building towards a liberated nation that the former president fought and dearly suffered for. Written by Odirile Rabolao